Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an expansive message of national confidence and continuity during a Spring Festival reception in Beijing, using the Lunar New Year celebration to emphasize China’s economic resilience, governance priorities, and ambitions for modernization in a turbulent global environment.
Speaking at the Great Hall of the People, Xi extended New Year greetings on behalf of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council to Chinese citizens at home and abroad, marking the transition from the Year of the Snake to the Year of the Horse. Addressing an audience of more than 2,000 attendees, he described the past year as “extraordinary,” saying the country had confronted domestic and international challenges head-on while achieving new advances in economic strength, scientific innovation, and national defense.
Xi stated that China’s economy had withstood pressure and maintained growth, demonstrating what he called strong resilience and vitality despite a complex global landscape. He pointed to progress in law-based governance, cultural development, ecological protection, and military modernization as evidence of steady national advancement.
The president outlined several milestones Beijing plans to commemorate, including the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and World War II, as well as key regional anniversaries in Xinjiang and Xizang. He also referenced preparations for the 15th National Games, to be jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, presenting them as symbols of national unity and development.
Looking ahead, Xi said 2026 would mark both the 105th anniversary of the Communist Party’s founding and the launch of the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan for 2026–2030, a blueprint intended to guide high-quality development and sustain social stability. He reiterated the leadership’s commitment to strict party self-governance and ongoing anti-corruption efforts, which he credited with producing notable results.
Xi also highlighted China’s expanding diplomatic engagement, citing initiatives such as the Global Governance Initiative and multilateral gatherings including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, which he said contributed “certainty and positive energy” to an increasingly unsettled world.
Describing the horse as a cultural symbol of vigor, strength, and perseverance, Xi urged the Chinese people to maintain strong morale and continue advancing what he called the new journey of Chinese modernization in the Year of the Horse, which begins on February 17. The reception was presided over by Premier Li Qiang and attended by several senior party leaders, underscoring the event’s significance within China’s political calendar.
