Xi calls for forging ahead to build strong China

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday stressed efforts to maintain strategic resolve and stay united in forging ahead against all odds to build a strong country.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a gathering held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, the country's top political advisory body, to usher in the new year.

On the journey of Chinese modernization, the country will not only encounter clear skies and gentle breezes, but also face high winds, choppy waters, and even dangerous storms, said Xi.

He stressed the necessity to maintain strategic resolve and pool the great strength of all Chinese people striving in unity to cut through the waves and forge ahead with courage.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission (CMC), Xi extended his New Year greetings to non-CPC parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, personages without party affiliation, Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, overseas Chinese, and the friends from around the world who support China's modernization.

In 2024, faced with challenges arising from both the domestic and international situations, China responded calmly with a full range of measures, meeting the major economic and social development targets for the year, Xi noted.

The development journey in 2024 has been extraordinary with encouraging achievements, which has further strengthened the country's determination and confidence in advancing Chinese modernization, Xi said.

Xi pointed out that 2024 saw the CPPCC conscientiously implement the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and make new contributions to advancing the cause of the Party and the country.

Over the past year, the CPPCC worked diligently with a focus on the central task, and intensified self-improvement efforts, Xi said.

In 2025, the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), efforts will be made to implement more proactive macro policies to promote sustained economic recovery, continuously improve people's living standards, and maintain social harmony and stability, Xi said.

Xi stressed high-quality fulfillment of the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan to lay a solid foundation for a good start in the 15th Five-Year Plan.

Xi also called on the CPPCC to fully leverage its role as a specialized consultative body in actively offering suggestions and proposals, and garnering broader public support and common understandings.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC, presided over the gathering.

Other Party and state leaders including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended the event.

Xi calls for forging ahead to build strong China

The United States' push to revoke China's Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status, or granting the Most Favored Nation (MFN) treatment permanently, is a clear instance of unilateralism and trade protectionism, according to a white paper released by China's State Council Information Office on Wednesday.

The white paper, titled "China's Position on Some Issues Concerning China-US Economic and Trade Relations", aims to clarify the facts about the bilateral economic and trade relations between the two countries and lay out China's position on relevant issues.

The white paper said that the PNTR status is the ballast of China-U.S. economic and trade relations.

The U.S. push to revoke this status violates the rules of the World Trade Organization's (WTO), undermines China-U.S. relations, and disrupts the global economic order, the white paper noted.

According to the white paper, WTO rules require its members to unconditionally grant MFN treatment to all other members, a requirement that has binding legal force.

Over the past two decades, the PNTR has served to stabilize China-U.S. economic and trade relations. Revoking China's PNTR status will see China-U.S. economic and trade relations returning to the uncertainty and unpredictability that preceded China's accession to the WTO in 2001.

China opposes any unilateralist and protectionist acts that sabotage the multilateral trading system and hopes that the U.S. will be clearly aware of the possible harm caused by its attempt to revoke China's MFN status, the white paper said.

The white paper called on the U.S. to work constructively with the overwhelming majority of WTO members in safeguarding a fair and reasonable global economic and trade order and environment.

Rescinding China's most favored nation status undermines foundation of China-US trade relations: white paper