President Xi Jinping, the leader of the People’s Republic of China, delivers his New Year address, highlighting China’s achievements in the last year and outlining the future priorities for the coming year. This address is given on the 31st of December every year, and he delivered it on 31st December, 2024, regarding China’s achievements and future priorities.
Unlike other New Year addresses, this is a critical speech as China faces an economic slowdown and the rise of Donald Trump, who plans on imposing tariffs on Chinese goods of up to 60 percent. Compared to last year, President Xi Jinping’s note on Taiwan has softened due to economic slowdown in China. Will China’s strategies foster global stability or lead to heightened tensions in the coming year?
2024 Achievement Highlights:
President Xi Jinping started with China’s achievement in 2024, including the economic growth where China’s GDP surpassed 130 trillion yuan ($17.73 trillion) for the year. Increase in agricultural outputs of grain production exceeding 700 million tons, ensuring national food security. The infrastructure development of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan link now connects the two cities across the sea, improving regional connectivity and economic growth in the region.
Scientific and technological advancements include the commencement of the operation of the Antarctic Qinling Station, expanding China’s presence in polar research, and space exploration of the moon, where the Chang’e-6 lunar probe successfully collected samples from the other side of the moon. Then China produced over 10 million new EVs, marking a significant milestone in the automotive industry and a breakthrough in integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, and quantum communicThe China’s position in cutting-edge technologies.
2025 China’s priorities:
address mainly focused on economic growth and Taiwan, but here are other important aspects focused on by President Xi Jinping. The technological advancement about achieving self-reliance in high-tech manufacturing, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence to enhance China’s position in cutting-edge technologies. Further addressing challenges such as youth unemployment and slow wage growth by focusing on employment, income growth, elderly care, and education. Prioritizing national security, including strengthening systems of protection and utilizing science and technology for security purposes. Then governance reforms to enhance efficiency and address internal challenges, ensuring stability in the nation’s political and economic system.
On a solid pillar and a stabilizing force in the global economy, Xi pointed out the focus on revitalization of China’s economy and quite a few areas of challenge as of 2025. He pointed out that China’s GDP for 2024 would be greater than 130 trillion yuan ($17.8 trillion), thus a deep V “turnaround” is in place. In order to maintain the upward trend, Xi promised to “adopt more proactive and effective policies” in the year 2025 around the high-quality 3D strategy, which is decoupling, investing, and dreaming. That is, bolstered enhancement of critical self-sufficiency. Admitting the headwinds in the international economic environment and the shift to new drivers of growth, he was still confident:
“We can prevail with our hard work. As always, we grow in the wind and rain, and we get stronger through hard times.” These remarks reinforce the idea that China is more strategic in nature and aims at strengthening the economy come what may, even withstanding the stresses of modern times.
In his 2025 New Year address, President Xi Jinping, reiterating his position, made it clear as to what China wants with Taiwan. He made it clear that he looks forward to Taiwan’s unification with China, stating that, “No one can stop the historic trend of national reunification.” This rhetoric mirrors his 2024 speech, where he declared, “The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family.” These universal claims are very much core to the Chinese position on Taiwan’s reunification and, as is evident, may endure in their essence for a long time.
Xi Jinping’s address at the turn of 2025 began with an emphasis on the development of the country, but more particularly on the independent development of technology and its connection to the economy and security. Stressing international challenges, the President reiterated the will of the country to restore its economy through active management and inventiveness. To deliver well on the target, xi directed attention to increasing the country’s industrial strength so that major technological advances may be achieved.
Besides, he pointed out the need to improve social order and the governance system. In their perspective, these quotations confirm the growth of China’s emphasis on robustness and self-reliance as a strategy to cope with both domestic reforms and international changes in the coming decades.
