Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent New Year's greetings on the occasion of the Spring Festival during a gala reception in Beijing to symbolically kick off the Chinese New Year - the Year of the Horse.
At the meeting in the Great Hall of the People, the President, who is also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, conveyed New Year greetings to all Chinese people at home and abroad on behalf of the Party leadership and the State Council.
Xi described the past Year of the Snake as extraordinary and said China has been able to face difficulties in a complex domestic and international environment and made new progress. He said the country's economic strength, scientific and technological capabilities, defence capabilities and overall national strength have been further strengthened.
He said the economy had maintained growth despite the pressure and had shown considerable resilience and vitality. At a reception attended by more than 2,000 guests, Xi recalled progress in the rule of law, cultural development, environmental protection and national defence.
He also mentioned several important milestones, including the drafting of the 15th Five-Year Plan for the period 2026-2030, the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and the holding of the 15th National Games in Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macau.
China has also introduced a global governance initiative and hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit as well as a global leaders' meeting dedicated to women, which he said has brought stability and positive energy to a changing world. The President also highlighted the results of the anti-corruption campaign and the Party's continued consistent management.
The year 2026 marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the start of a new five-year period. Xi called for promoting high-quality development, maintaining social stability and continuing strict Party governance to ensure the country enters the next five-year period successfully.
The Spring Festival marks the beginning of the traditional Chinese lunar year, with the Year of the Horse falling on 17 February this year. In Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes energy, strength and endurance, i.e. steady progress and long-term prosperity.
The President urged the people to maintain high morale in the New Year and continue on the path of Chinese modernisation. The reception was chaired by Premier Li Qiang and attended by other high-ranking officials of the country.
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