CHINA’S President Xi Jinping has called on the Chinese people to press ahead with confidence and determination in the Year of the Horse, urging renewed commitment to high-quality development and national rejuvenation amid global uncertainty.
Speaking at a Spring Festival reception in Beijing on Saturday attended by more than 2,000 guests, Xi extended greetings to Chinese citizens at home and abroad on behalf of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council.
Xinhua, on Tuesday, reported him framing the Lunar New Year not merely as a cultural celebration but as a moment to reaffirm China’s trajectory towards modernisation.
Describing the outgoing Year of the Snake as extraordinary, Xi said China had confronted domestic and international challenges directly, achieving fresh progress despite a complex and volatile environment.
He highlighted advances in economic strength, scientific and technological capability, national defence and overall national power.
He also pointed to key milestones over the past year, including the formulation of the blueprint for the 15th Five-Year Plan period from 2026 to 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, anniversaries of the founding of the Xizang and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regions, and preparations for the 15th National Games to be co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau.
On the international front, Xi said China had proposed the Global Governance Initiative and successfully hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women, efforts he described as injecting much-needed certainty and positive energy into a turbulent world.
He added that anti-corruption efforts had yielded tangible results, as the Communist Party of China continued to pursue full and rigorous self-governance.
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 sustained high-quality development, social harmony and stability, and unwavering Party discipline to secure a strong start for the coming five years.
“In Chinese culture, the horse embodies vigor, strength and resilience, symbolizing steady progress and enduring prosperity,” Xi said, encouraging the nation to maintain high morale and forge ahead on the new journey of Chinese modernisation as the Year of the Horse begins on Tuesday.
His remarks drew praise from domestic attendees and international observers alike.
Leo Zheng, a researcher at the Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence who attended the reception, said he felt inspired by the address.
“Over the past year, China has made remarkable breakthroughs in the field of general artificial intelligence. As a participant and contributor to this process, I feel proud to have grown alongside the industry and deeply encouraged by the country's emerging dynamism in this domain,” he said.
Dong Xiaoman, a courier with SF Express attending the reception as a representative of emerging forms of employment, said she was moved by Xi’s recent engagement with delivery workers.
“It shows that he cares deeply about those of us on the front lines,” she said.
International commentators also welcomed the tone of the speech. Moiz Farooq, executive editor of Pakistan’s Daily Ittehad Media Group, said the address blended cultural tradition with national purpose.
“Speaking at a time that holds deep cultural meaning for families across China and for overseas Chinese communities, he combined tradition with national purpose in a way that felt both personal and purposeful,” Farooq said.
Anthony Moretti, associate professor of communications at Robert Morris University in the United States, said the Chinese people could celebrate the New Year with confidence, noting that Xi had underscored the importance of high-quality development as the cornerstone of continued progress.
Kang Ho-gu, director of the Sino-Korea Economy/Society Institute in South Korea, said 2026 would be pivotal for China’s economic transformation towards technology-driven growth.
“By advancing globalisation, China will demonstrate resilience and vitality amid a complex and volatile international environment while solidifying its economic strength,” Kang said.
Aruna Goonatilleke, president of the Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association, said Xi’s remarks reflected clarity of vision and strong leadership.
“We note with admiration the remarkable achievements highlighted. … These accomplishments further reinforce China's position as a pillar of stability and growth in the international community,” he said.
Carlos Martinez, co-editor of the Friends of Socialist China platform, said the speech situated current developments within the broader historical mission of socialist modernisation and national rejuvenation.
He added that Xi’s emphasis on building a global community with a shared future was both inspiring and essential at a time of geopolitical tension.
As China ushers in the Year of the Horse, Xi’s message sought to project confidence at home and reassurance abroad, positioning resilience and reform as twin pillars of the country’s next phase of development. - February 17, 2026
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