Xi hails ‘extraordinary’ year as China ushers in Year of the Horse

BEIJING: Xi Jinping on Saturday extended Spring Festival greetings at a grand reception in Beijing to welcome the Chinese New Year—the Year of the Horse—praising China’s resilience and achievements in what he described as an “extraordinary” past year.

Speaking at the Great Hall of the People, Xi—who also serves as general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission—conveyed New Year wishes on behalf of the Party Central Committee and the State Council to Chinese people at home and abroad.

Reflecting on the outgoing Year of the Snake, Xi said China had faced a complex and volatile domestic and international environment but met difficulties head-on, achieving fresh progress in economic strength, scientific and technological innovation, national defense and overall national power.

He said the Chinese economy had withstood pressure and maintained steady growth, demonstrating strong resilience and vitality despite global uncertainties. Over the past year, China made solid headway in law-based governance, cultural development, ecological conservation and national defense, he added.

Addressing more than 2,000 attendees, Xi highlighted key milestones, including the blueprint for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the establishment of Taiwan Recovery Day, and celebrations of the founding anniversaries of the Xizang Autonomous Region and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. He also noted the upcoming 15th National Games to be jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

On the international front, Xi said China had proposed the Global Governance Initiative and successfully hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women, efforts he said injected “certainty and positive energy” into a world facing profound change and turbulence.

He underscored that anti-corruption efforts had yielded notable results as the CPC continued to exercise full and rigorous self-governance, attributing the year’s achievements to the unity and hard work of the Party and people of all ethnic groups.

Looking ahead, Xi noted that 2026 marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the launch of the 15th Five-Year Plan. He called for advancing high-quality development, safeguarding social harmony and stability, and deepening strict Party governance to ensure a strong start to the next five years.

The Spring Festival, which begins this year on Feb 17, marks the start of the traditional Chinese New Year. In Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes vigor, strength and resilience—qualities Xi urged the nation to embody as it advances on the path of Chinese modernization.

The reception was presided over by Premier Li Qiang and attended by senior leaders Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng.