Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an ambitious New Year message on December 31, 2025, charting China's course through 2026 while celebrating achievements under the completed 14th Five-Year Plan. Speaking from Beijing, Xi emphasized economic resilience, technological innovation, and national unity as pillars of China's modernization drive.
The President announced China's 2025 GDP is projected to reach 140 trillion yuan ($19.3 trillion), marking five consecutive years of sustained growth despite global economic headwinds. Major breakthroughs in AI development, semiconductor research, and space exploration through the Tianwen-2 asteroid mission were highlighted as evidence of China's rising technological prowess.
Cultural achievements took center stage with reports of new UNESCO World Heritage listings and the global popularity of Chinese cultural IPs. Xi noted surging domestic tourism and the successful integration of traditional elements like martial arts into modern robotics demonstrations.
On cross-strait relations, the President reaffirmed commitments to peaceful reunification, stating: "The reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable." He praised recent cultural exchanges between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao as examples of successful regional integration under the 'One Country, Two Systems' framework.
Looking ahead to 2026, Xi outlined priorities for the 15th Five-Year Plan including enhanced social welfare programs, environmental protection measures, and reforms to boost high-quality development. The address concluded with commitments to global governance reform through China's newly proposed Global Governance Initiative.
