i feel like the prc advocating for socialism would give it a boost. especially when they have the receipts to show for it.

Remember that they do have to survive in capitalist hegemony. To break the hegemonic power of the United States imperial system, they're first breaking the systems that have been created to give full hegemonic dominance of the USD. New development bank, local currency trading, ignoring US sanctions, etc. Once the dollar cannot be weaponised by Washington against allies and enemies, I think we'll see more and more push, especially with the developments occuring as part of BRI, towards peaceful cooperation, which will hopefully open further masses towards socialist and communist thoughts and actions.