President Xi Jinping's New Year address boosts confidence, inspires efforts

President Xi Jinping's New Year address for 2025 has invigorated the Chinese people, instilling renewed confidence, increasing their morale, and inspiring a resolute determination to act in the new year.

In a nearly 11-minute address delivered through China Media Group (CMG) and the internet on Tuesday, President Xi called for confidence in the Chinese economy and underlined the importance of providing a better life for the people and making the world a better place for all.

In reviewing 2024, Xi said China's economy has rebounded and is on an upward trajectory, with its GDP for the year expected to pass the 130 trillion yuan (about $18.08 trillion) mark.

He listed what the country achieved in the past year in fostering new quality productive forces and cultivating new business sectors, forms and models. He noted in particular that China has produced more than 10 million new energy vehicles in a year for the first time.

"As an industrial worker, I am very proud of the rapid development of China's new energy vehicle industry," said Wang Yun, an employee at Voyah, a high-end electric vehicle brand of Chinese carmaker Dongfeng.

Cutting-edge technologies, such as robots, 5G communication, and digital twin technology, have significantly boosted work efficiency, Wang told CMG. "In 2025, I will continue to work with passion, making high-quality cars for our customers and contributing greater value to our society."

For the year ahead, Xi said China will fully complete the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and implement more proactive and effective policies, pursue high-quality development as a top priority, promote greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and maintain sound momentum in economic and social development.

The Chinese leader also acknowledged that the Chinese economy now faces "some new conditions, including challenges of uncertainties in the external environment and pressure of transformation from old growth drivers into new ones."

He called on the world's second-largest economy to remain confident. "We can prevail with our hard work. As always, we grow in the wind and rain, and we get stronger through hard times," Xi said. "We must be confident."

Hu Kefei, founder of Zhejiang GBI Intelligent Equipment, one of the top drone brands in China, found the Chinese president's remarks truly inspiring.

"In his New Year address, President Xi has an in-depth analysis of the current economic challenges. At the same time, he boosts our morale and strengthens our confidence," Hu said.

The entrepreneur pledged more efforts to improve his company's core competitiveness, demonstrate the responsibility of private enterprises in accelerating the cultivation of new quality productive forces, and overcome challenges to achieve faster progress in the low-altitude economy.

Grassroots officials like Chen Ze, deputy director of the Economic Development Office in Zhongguan Town, Deqing County of east China's Zhejiang Province, characterized the Chinese leader's New Year address as a profound source of spiritual motivation and practical guidance.

"With greater enthusiasm, more pragmatic approaches and stronger measures, we will continue to optimize the business environment, spur market vitality and social creativity, and promote high-quality development of the economy," Chen told CMG.

In the New Year address, Xi also recalled his inspection tours across the country in 2024, from Tianshui in northwest China's Gansu Province to Aojiao Village in southeast China's Fujian Province, among others.

"We are very excited when President Xi Jinping mentioned the 'big, red Huaniu apples in Tianshui' in his New Year address," said Wu Zhengquan, a local apple farmer.

Wu said the Huaniu apples in 2024 were of good quality and had a high yield.

"In the new year, we will focus on refined management, aiming to grow our brand bigger and stronger and increase our income and wealth," Wu said.

Renowned China expert Robert Lawrence Kuhn said Xi's detailed description of his domestic inspection tours highlighted the leader's focus on improving the lives of ordinary people.

"He states explicitly, 'The concerns of the people about jobs and incomes, elderly and child care, education and medical services are always on my mind.' It is perhaps his most personal and revealing comment," said Kuhn in an analysis for CGTN.