Xi reviews China's achievements in past year in New Year Address

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday delivered his annual New Year address to ring in 2025, reviewing the country's achievements in 2024 and extending best wishes for the coming year.

Reviewing China's journey in the past year, Xi said the country and its people "have experienced winds and rains and seen rainbows."

China actively responded to the impacts of the changing environment at home and abroad, and adopted a full range of policies to make solid gains in pursuing high-quality development, Xi said.

China's economy was on an upward trajectory in 2024, with its GDP for the year expected to pass 130 trillion yuan, he said.

Achievements were also made in grain production, coordinated development across regions, as well as green and low-carbon development, said the Chinese president.

China has fostered new quality productive forces in the past year, with new business sectors, forms and models emerging across the country, Xi said, adding that the country's annual production of new energy vehicles (NEVs) surpassed 10 million for the first time.

He also noted breakthroughs in integrated circuit, artificial intelligence, quantum communications and many other fields, as well as the collection of samples from the far side of the moon for the first time, the deep ocean exploration mission, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link connecting cities across the sea, and the exploration in the Antarctic.

All these epitomize the lofty spirit and ideals of the Chinese people to explore stars and oceans, he said.

Recalling his domestic inspection tours in 2024, Xi said he saw the people enjoy their enriching lives.

"The concerns of the people about jobs and incomes, elderly and child care, education and medical services are always on my mind," Xi said, adding that 2024 saw the rise of basic pension, the drop of mortgage rates, and the expansion of cross-province direct settlement of medical bills, which all brought real benefits to the people.

Xi said that the Chinese athletes fully demonstrated the vigor and confidence of young Chinese with their performance in the Paris Olympics, the officers and soldiers were full of drive as the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and Air Force celebrated their 75th birthdays, and Party members and the people showed unity during the fight against natural disasters.

Xi said he presented awards to recipients of national medals and honorary titles in 2024.

"The honor belongs to them; it also belongs to every hard-working person who has lived up to their responsibilities," he said.

China, as a responsible major country, actively promoted global governance reform and deepened solidarity and cooperation among the Global South in the past year, according to the Chinese president. He said the country made deeper and more substantive advances in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, successfully hosted the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and put forward China's vision at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, APEC, G20 and other bilateral and multilateral platforms, which contributed greatly to the world peace and stability.

The year 2024 also saw the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, which called for further deepening all-round reform, Xi said.

"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," said the president.

Looking ahead to 2025, Xi said China will fully complete the 14th Five-Year Plan, 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.

He said 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," Xi said.

The top priority of the government is to ensure a happy life for the people, Xi said, urging efforts to steadily improve social undertakings and governance, and substantially settle issues for the people, so as to bring more smiles to the people and greater warmth to their hearts.

China will unswervingly implement the policy of "one country, two systems" to maintain long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao, Xi said.

Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same family, he pointed out.

"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," said the president.

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, Xi said, adding that 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, so as to jointly create a better future for the world.

Xi concluded his speech with best wishes for the country and the people.

"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!" he said.

Xi reviews China's achievements in past year in New Year Address

Xi reviews China's achievements in past year in New Year Address

Xi reviews China's achievements in past year in New Year Address

As the Qingming Festival approaches this Friday, various traditional folk activities have been held across China, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the occasion.

With a 2,500-year history, Qingming Festival, or the Festival of Pure Brightness, observed in early April, uniquely combines ancestral worship with the celebration of spring. Falling on the 15th day after the spring equinox, this ritual-rich observance reflects China's enduring values of ancestral veneration and inspires deep introspection about what gives life meaning.

In Sijia Village, Huayin City, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, a unique swing festival is held to mark the occasion. Eighteen different types of traditional swings, such as the spinning wheel swing, the Bagua swing reminiscent of a rotating carousel, and the balance swing designed for two people, have attracted many visitors.

Historically, Sijia Village served as a military post guarding the strategic Tongguan pass, a former mountain pass and fortress located south of the confluence of the Wei and Yellow Rivers. The swing tradition in the village has its origins in military training exercises like climbing and river crossing. The local swing culture further developed as regional trade flourished, eventually evolving into the "swing festival" that continues today.

"It's very exciting and tests your skill, endurance, and most importantly, your arm strength. You need to maintain balance," said Qu Xiangyang, a visitor.

In Rudong County, Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, another traditional Qingming activity takes place - kite flying.

Flying kites as a way of making wishes is an age-old Qingming custom in this region. As a result, the Qingming Festival in Nantong is also known as the "Kite Festival."

The local Banyao whistling kite making skills is listed as one of the first national intangible cultural heritage items.

According to a folk culture expert, people traditionally write the names of diseases or misfortunes on paper, attach it to a kite, and release it into the sky. This practice is believed to drive away illness and disaster, while also serving as a way to make wishes.

In south China's Guangdong Province, a large tug-of-war competition is underway in Maoming City. Teams from different towns and streets are competing, attracting many locals to cheer on their teams.

Tug-of-war, which originated during the late Spring and Autumn period (770 BC - 476 BC), became part of Qingming customs during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty once organized large-scale tug-of-war competitions for the festival.

"Tug-of-war became very popular in the Tang Dynasty, even emerging as the national sport. It originated in the Jingchu region and later spread across the country. In ancient Lingnan (Southern China), tug-of-war games were a common tradition. Through these events, people seek to pray for peace, prosperity, and abundant harvests," said Yao Guojun, vice dean of the College of Arts and Law, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology.

Traditional folk activities held for Qingming Festival