On New Year’s Eve, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered his annual New Year address from his office in Beijing, reflecting on an extraordinary 2024 and articulating his vision for 2025.
Marching Towards Chinese Modernization
President Xi described 2024 as an “extraordinary year,” highlighting the nation’s significant strides in advancing Chinese modernization. He emphasized that the concerns of the people—ranging from employment and income to education and healthcare—remain at the forefront of his agenda.
“Of all the jobs in front of us, the most important is to ensure a happy life for our people,” Xi stated.
Bringing Real Benefits to the People
Throughout 2024, Xi undertook numerous visits across the country, engaging with ordinary citizens to understand their lives more deeply. He inquired about their incomes, housing conditions, healthcare access, children’s education, and elderly care services.
According to the Ministry of Finance, 70 percent of government expenditure in 2024 was directed toward enhancing the people’s well-being. A series of effective measures were implemented to improve living standards:
- Renovation projects began on over 50,000 old urban residential communities.
- A multi-billion-dollar consumer goods trade-in program benefited tens of millions of people nationwide.
- Lowering of mortgage interest rates aided 50 million households, positively impacting approximately 150 million people.
In the first three quarters of 2024, the national per capita disposable income reached 30,941 yuan (around $4,178), marking a 5.2 percent increase over the previous year.
Addressing the challenges of an aging population—with over one-fifth of citizens now aged over 60—the central government allocated 300 million yuan to support elderly meal assistance programs. Additionally, 358,000 in-home care beds were installed to better serve the elderly community.
China as a Responsible Major Country
In his address, Xi underscored China’s role on the global stage, stating, “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.”
In 2024, China’s commitment to high-level opening up and win-win cooperation presented broad opportunities for other countries pursuing modernization. The number of China’s major trading partners expanded from over 140 to more than 150 countries and regions. Citizens from 54 countries now benefit from China’s 240-hour transit visa exemptions.
China strengthened ties with partners from the Global South through various initiatives:
- At the gathering marking the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Xi proposed eight measures to support Global South cooperation, encompassing training, youth exchanges, economic development, free trade, agricultural cooperation, digital economy, green development, and ecological conservation.
- Established five cooperation frameworks with Arab states in innovation, finance, energy, economy and trade, and people-to-people exchanges.
- Deepened alignment of development strategies with Latin American and Caribbean countries, and enhanced cooperation with Pacific island nations.
- At the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, pledged to build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, outlining ten partnership actions over the next three years to jointly advance modernization.
Pursuing Peaceful Solutions
Amid rising geopolitical tensions and global instability, China’s efforts in promoting peaceful solutions through dialogue were prominent in 2024. Initiatives included:
- Pushing for the adoption of the first UN Security Council ceasefire resolution in Gaza in March.
- Facilitating the signing of the Beijing Declaration on strengthening Palestinian unity in July.
- Launching the “Friends for Peace” group on the Ukraine crisis alongside other Global South countries.
“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,” Xi affirmed.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As China rings in 2025, President Xi Jinping’s address signals a resolute commitment to bringing more smiles to the Chinese people and contributing to global prosperity and peace. His vision for the future emphasizes continued progress in domestic well-being and proactive engagement on the international stage.
Reference(s):
Ringing in 2025, China vows to bring more smiles to its people
cgtn.com
