We are pleased to republish below President Xi Jinping’s New Year message. The message outlines the current situation in China without seeking to obscure difficulties and challenges, whether domestic or global, objective or subjective, and it points the way forward, combining confidence with realism in an objective and scientific manner.
Xi points to the impressive advances that have been made over the course of the past year in the pursuit of high-quality development and the improvement of people’s living standards, as well as in advancing new productive forces and exploring new frontiers of science and technology.
For the first time, China has produced more than 10 million new energy vehicles in a year. Breakthroughs have been made in integrated circuit, artificial intelligence, quantum communications and many other fields. Also for the first time, the Chang’e-6 lunar probe collected samples from the far side of the moon. The Mengxiang drilling vessel explored the mystery of the deep ocean. The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link now connects the two cities across the sea. The Antarctic Qinling Station is now in operation on the frozen continent.
Xi reiterates the CPC’s firm commitment to meeting the needs of the people:
Of all the jobs in front of us, the most important is to ensure a happy life for our people. Every family hopes that their children can have a good education, their seniors can enjoy good elderly services, and their youngsters can have more and better opportunities. These simple wishes are our people’s aspirations for a better life. We should work together to steadily improve social undertakings and governance, build a harmonious and inclusive atmosphere, and settle real issues, big or small, for our people. We must bring more smiles to our people and greater warmth to their hearts.
Discussing China’s role in the world, in the context of a rising multipolarity, President Xi affirms China’s commitment to peace and cooperation:
As changes unseen in a century accelerate across the world, it is important to rise above estrangement and conflict with a broad vision, and care for the future of humanity with great passion. China will work with all countries to promote friendship and cooperation, enhance mutual learning among different cultures, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. We must jointly create a better future for the world.
The English translation of the speech was first published on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Friends of Socialist China co-editor Keith Bennett’s comment on the speech is included in a China Daily report, which we publish below the speech.
Greetings to everybody! Time flies fast, and the new year will be with us shortly. I extend my best wishes to you all from Beijing.
In 2024, we have together journeyed through the four seasons. Together, we have experienced winds and rains and seen rainbows. Those touching and unforgettable moments have been like still frames showing how extraordinary a year we have had.
We have proactively responded to the impacts of the changing environment at home and abroad. We have adopted a full range of policies to make solid gains in pursuing high-quality development. China’s economy has rebounded and is on an upward trajectory, with its GDP for the year expected to pass the 130 trillion yuan mark. Grain output has surpassed 700 million tons, and China’s bowls are now filled with more Chinese grain. Coordinated development across regions has gained stronger momentum, and mutually reinforcing advances have been made in both new urbanization and rural revitalization. Green and low-carbon development has been further enhanced. Indeed, a more beautiful China is unfolding before us.
We have fostered new quality productive forces in light of actual conditions. New business sectors, forms and models have kept emerging. For the first time, China has produced more than 10 million new energy vehicles in a year. Breakthroughs have been made in integrated circuit, artificial intelligence, quantum communications and many other fields. Also for the first time, the Chang’e-6 lunar probe collected samples from the far side of the moon. The Mengxiang drilling vessel explored the mystery of the deep ocean. The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link now connects the two cities across the sea. The Antarctic Qinling Station is now in operation on the frozen continent. All this epitomizes the lofty spirit and dreams of the Chinese people to explore stars and oceans.
This year, I have visited many places across the country and seen how our people enjoy their enriching lives. I saw the big, red Huaniu apples in Tianshui, Gansu and the fishing boats in Aojiao Village, Fujian loaded with their catches. I watched the millenium-old “Eastern Smile” in the Maiji Mountain Grottoes, and I learned more about good-neighborliness passed from generation to generation in Liuchixiang Alley. I enjoyed the hustle and bustle in Tianjin’s Ancient Culture Street, and I saw how the people in Yinchuan’s mixed-ethnic residential communities live together as one family. The concerns of the people about jobs and incomes, elderly and child care, education and medical services are always on my mind. This year, basic pension has been raised, and mortgage rates have dropped. Cross-province direct settlement of medical bills has been expanded, making it easier for people to seek medical treatment across the country. And consumer goods trade-in programs have improved people’s lives… All these are real benefits to our people.
In the Paris Olympics, Chinese athletes raced to the top and achieved their best performance in Olympic Games held overseas, fully demonstrating the vigor and confidence of young Chinese. The PLA Navy and Air Force celebrated their 75th birthdays, and our servicemen and women are full of drive. When floods, typhoons and other natural disasters struck, members of the Communist Party of China and officials stepped forward to lead disaster relief efforts, and our people were of one mind and reached out to each other. People in all fields — workers, builders and entrepreneurs, among others — are working hard to fulfill their dreams. I presented awards to recipients of national medals and honorary titles. The honor belongs to them; it also belongs to every hard-working person who has lived up to their responsibilities.
In a world of both transformation and turbulence, China, as a responsible major country, is actively promoting global governance reform and deepening solidarity and cooperation among the Global South. We are making deeper and more substantive advances in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was a full success. We put forward China’s vision at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, APEC, G20 and other bilateral and multilateral forums. We have contributed greatly to the maintenance of world peace and stability.
We celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of New China. With deep affection, we looked back at the sea change that has taken place across China since the birth of the People’s Republic. Nurtured by our 5,000-plus years of continuous civilization, our country, China, is engraved not only on the bottom of the ancient bronze ritual wine vessel of He Zun, but also in the heart of every Chinese. At its Third Plenary Session, the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China sounded a clarion call for further deepening all-round reform. We will march forward in great strides to advance reform and opening up as the trend of our times. We will surely embrace even broader prospects in pursuing Chinese modernization in the course of reform and opening up.
In 2025, we will fully complete the 14th Five-Year Plan. We will implement more proactive and effective policies, pursue high-quality development as a top priority, promote greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and maintain sound momentum in economic and social development. The Chinese economy now faces some new conditions, including challenges of uncertainties in the external environment and pressure of transformation from old growth drivers into new ones. But we can prevail with our hard work. As always, we grow in the wind and rain, and we get stronger through hard times. We must be confident.
Of all the jobs in front of us, the most important is to ensure a happy life for our people. Every family hopes that their children can have a good education, their seniors can enjoy good elderly services, and their youngsters can have more and better opportunities. These simple wishes are our people’s aspirations for a better life. We should work together to steadily improve social undertakings and governance, build a harmonious and inclusive atmosphere, and settle real issues, big or small, for our people. We must bring more smiles to our people and greater warmth to their hearts.
On the eve of the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland, I visited the city again, and I was gratified to see the new progress and changes there. We will unswervingly implement the policy of One Country, Two Systems to maintain long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao. We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same family. No one can ever sever the bond of kinship between us, and no one can ever stop China’s reunification, a trend of the times.
As changes unseen in a century accelerate across the world, it is important to rise above estrangement and conflict with a broad vision, and care for the future of humanity with great passion. China will work with all countries to promote friendship and cooperation, enhance mutual learning among different cultures, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. We must jointly create a better future for the world.
Dreams and wishes may be far, but they can be fulfilled with dedicated pursuit. On the new journey of Chinese modernization, everyone is a key actor, every effort counts, and every ray of light shines.
Splendor adorns our motherland, and starlight graces every home. Let us greet the new year with hope. May our great country enjoy harmony and prosperity! May all your dreams come true! May you all have a new year of happiness and peace!
Xi’s New Year message hailed overseas
President Xi Jinping’s New Year address, which highlighted China’s achievements in the past year and its commitment to contributing to world peace and growth, was insightful and encouraging, global experts have said.
In his message delivered on Tuesday to ring in 2025, Xi focused on high-quality development and people’s livelihoods, and underscored China’s vision to promote global governance reform.
Xi did not shy away from mentioning the challenges facing the Chinese economy and called on everyone to remain confident.
Jack Perry, chairman of the 48 Group in London, called the address “insightful”, and said it offers profound lessons not only for China but also for the global community, including businesses and organizations in the United Kingdom.
“The emphasis on high-quality development and the shift from old growth drivers to innovative technologies is particularly noteworthy,” Perry said.
“President Xi’s remarks deeply aligned with our mission to foster collaboration, understanding and mutual prosperity.”
The achievements in new energy vehicles, integrated circuits, artificial intelligence and quantum communications demonstrate “China’s commitment to advancing technological frontiers”, which are directly relevant to UK businesses, particularly in sectors such as smart infrastructure, AI-led net-zero projects and medical technology enhancements, Perry said.
“I see immense potential in the lessons outlined in President Xi’s message. By embracing these values and fostering deeper UK-China collaboration, we can create a future that benefits businesses, communities and the world at large,” he said.
Keith Bennett, co-editor of the London-based Friends of Socialist China platform, said that Xi’s message “embodies confidence combined with realism”. It outlines the current situation in China without seeking to obscure difficulties and challenges, whether domestic or global, objective or subjective, and “it points the way forward”, he said.
President Xi’s address emphasized that “challenges and pressures need to be overcome through hard work”, Bennett said, adding that it is a message that people in every country should take seriously.
In identifying current objective as well as problems and issues that require resolution, Xi’s speech “shows how the new is being born in the course of tackling old and new challenges; for example, in the fostering and development of new quality productive forces”, he said.
Ron Chow, co-chairman of the US-China Youth and Student Exchange Association, called Xi’s New Year address “truly inspiring”.
The speech, which highlighted advancements in technological innovation, improvements in people’s livelihoods and the progress made in international cooperation, was “deeply encouraging”, he said.
Chow said what touched him the most was the emphasis on China’s advocacy for cooperation and mutual benefit, with its commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
“The firm stand for peace and opposition to division and conflict are not only China’s voice, but also the shared aspiration of all peace-loving people. … China shoulders its responsibilities with dignity, making overseas Chinese proud and eager to contribute,” he said.
Chow added that he is confident that China will overcome all challenges and become even more strong and prosperous, with its people leading more harmonious and fulfilling lives.
Oleg Timofeev, an associate professor at RUDN University in Russia, said that Xi’s speech reflected China’s economic and high-tech development.
The world has recognized China’s remarkable achievements across various fields over the past year, including the semiconductor sector, Timofeev said.
“The development of China’s homegrown silicon capabilities is crucial for advancing modern technology across a wide range of industries, positioning China as a high-tech powerhouse,” he added.
