In an address delivered ahead of the Chinese New Year, President Xi Jinping invoked the vigor and resilience of the Year of the Horse, calling on the nation to forge ahead on the journey of Chinese modernization. Describing the concluding Year of the Snake as extraordinary, Xi said that China met difficulties head-on and made new progress in the face of a complex and volatile environment at home and abroad, elevating its economic strength; scientific, technological and defense capabilities; and composite national strength to new heights. Addressing a New Year's reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, which was attended by more than 2,000 people, Xi noted China’s solid progress in various fields in the past year, and mentioned that China put forward the Global Governance Initiative and successfully hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit and the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women. These efforts, he said, brought much-needed certainty and positive energy to a world fraught with changes and turmoil. Anti-corruption efforts also yielded notable results as the Communist Party of China (CPC) steadfastly exercised full and rigorous self-governance, Xi said.
The year 2026 marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the CPC and the launch of the 15th Five Year Plan (2026-30). Xi called for advancing high-quality development, maintaining social harmony and stability, and consistently exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance, in order to strive for a sound start for the next five years. In Chinese culture, the horse embodies vigor, strength and resilience, symbolizing steady progress and enduring prosperity, Xi said. He encouraged the Chinese people to maintain high morale and forge ahead on the new journey of Chinese modernization in the Year of the Horse, which starts on February 17.
“Over the past year, China has made remarkable breakthroughs in the field of general AI. As a participant and contributor to this process, I feel proud to have grown alongside the industry and am deeply encouraged by the country’s emerging dynamism in this domain,” said Zheng Zilong, a researcher at the Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence, who attended the reception. Dong Xiaoman, a representative of emerging forms of employment, said that during her five years as a courier with SF Express, she has witnessed steady improvements in the industry. Dong said she felt encouraged as President Xi greeted delivery workers during his recent inspection tour in Beijing.
Premier Li Qiang presided over the reception, which was also attended by the other members of the Standing Committee of the CPC Politburo, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi. Vice President Han Zheng was also present at the event.
