Chinese President Xi Jinping Delivers New Year’s Address Focusing on Economic Growth

Xi Jinping's New Year's Address Highlights

• 💡 Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a New Year's address, primarily emphasizing the country's economic growth for the coming year.
• 🎯 China has successfully met the economic targets of its 14th Five-Year Plan, with its GDP projected to exceed US$20 trillion this year.
• 📌 On the issue of Taiwan, Mr. Xi reiterated that the reunification of the motherland is "unstoppable," citing a bond of kinship between Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Economic Development Strategy

• 📈 The next strategic steps involve embracing globalization, enhancing China's own capabilities, and deepening reform.
• 🚀 Innovation is positioned as central to propelling high-quality development, with examples like humanoid robots and large-scale AI models gaining global traction.
• 🔬 This focus on innovation also aims to achieve breakthroughs in independent chip development and foster self-reliance in science and technology, outlined in the 15-year plan.

Cross-Strait Relations and International Response

• ⚠️ Mr. Xi's comments on Taiwan followed two days of military drills staged by China, encircling the island.
• 💬 Several foreign countries, including the US, UK, Australia, Japan, and the EU, expressed concerns, labeling the drills as destabilizing and a deliberate escalation.
• 🛡️ China's foreign ministry slammed these remarks as "hypocritical," asserting they ignore external interference in China's affairs, while the PLA confirmed drill completion and readiness for separatist activities.