Naturally Xi Jinping has to hedge his bets for some years to come but he is indeed more assertive (though you have to listen carefully!) in adressing Chinese interests in discussions with foreign officials though some guys dismiss that as mere semantics.
Of course Xi will have to consolidate his position after assuming the three ´power positions´ in 2012/13 and also establish a working equilibrium with ever wily Li Keqiang but he will also have to win over the top brass in CMC. Possibly forging an alliance with the generals could give Xi Jinping the necessary room for maneuver for implementing his further policy aims.
if you are referring to his remark in mexico, i read it more as directed towards his comrades in Beijing rather than westerners.
Xi will obviously try to consolidate his position through whatever means possible like every leader that ever existed on this planet, but either way he is not holding a parade in 2014 unless something big happens like they are gonna attack Taiwan in the following month