Xi Jinping: Speech at the 2026 Spring Festival Gathering

Comrades and friends:

The Spring Festival of the Year of the Bingwu Horse is just around the corner. Today, we have gathered together to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new.
First of all, on behalf of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, I would like to extend my warmest holiday greetings to all of you! I also extend New Year’s greetings to the people of all ethnic groups across the country, as well as to our compatriots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese communities.
The Year of the Snake, which is now drawing to a close, has been an extraordinary one. In the face of a complex and ever-changing international and domestic landscape, we have risen to challenges and pressed ahead with determination, achieving new progress and tangible results in the cause of the Party and the country. Throughout the year, the major goals and tasks for economic and social development were successfully accomplished, bringing the 14th Five-Year Plan to a successful conclusion. China’s economic strength, scientific and technological prowess, national defense capabilities, and overall national strength have all reached new heights, and Chinese modernization has taken another solid step forward.
Over the past year, we have implemented a more proactive and effective macro policy, further deepened reform across the board, and made solid progress in building a modern industrial system. As a result, China’s economy has pressed ahead amid headwinds, moving toward new growth drivers and higher quality, demonstrating remarkable resilience and vitality. We have also made steady strides in advancing socialist democracy and the rule of law, cultural development, ecological conservation, and national defense and military development, with all these undertakings reinforcing and propelling one another. At the same time, we have focused on safeguarding and improving people’s livelihoods, ensuring overall social stability.
We successfully convened the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, charting the blueprint for development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. We solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, established Taiwan Restoration Day, celebrated the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region and the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and jointly hosted the 15th National Games in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, thereby further consolidating the tremendous momentum for advancing Chinese modernization.
We have put forward the Global Governance Initiative, successfully hosted the SCO Tianjin Summit and the Global Women’s Summit, and actively promoted the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, thereby injecting greater certainty and positive energy into a world fraught with turmoil and change.
We have unswervingly advanced comprehensive and rigorous Party self-governance, carried out in-depth study and education on the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Decision on Improving Conduct, achieved remarkable results in building a clean government and combating corruption, and seen continuous improvement in the political environment and social ethos.
The achievements of the past year are substantial and weighty, the result of the concerted efforts of the Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country. These accomplishments are inspiring, and our ongoing struggle has bolstered our confidence. As long as we maintain strategic resolve, advance steadily step by step, and make solid progress stage by stage, the cause of the Party and the country will surely turn small victories into major ones, and we will undoubtedly achieve our goals.
Comrades and friends!
The year 2026 marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the inaugural year of the 14th Five-Year Plan period. We must steadfastly uphold Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guiding principle, thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Party and all plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee, rigorously carry out the arrangements made at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, adhere to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, fully, accurately, and comprehensively apply the new development philosophy, accelerate the establishment of a new development pattern, focus on promoting high-quality development, safeguard social harmony and stability, unremittingly advance comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, and strive to achieve a strong start to the 14th Five-Year Plan period.
Our Party was born for the people and thrives because of the people; all our work is aimed at securing the people’s happiness. We must always put the people first, foster and practice a correct view of political achievements, and deliver concrete results that can stand the test of practice, the people, and history.
Comrades and friends!
In Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes vigor, strength, and relentless self-improvement, heralding a future of steady progress and enduring prosperity. In the Year of the Bingwu Horse, we hope that all ethnic groups across the country will unite even more closely around the Party Central Committee, maintain unwavering confidence in victory, sustain high morale, and, as they ride forward on the new journey of Chinese modernization, forge ahead with determination and courage to jointly create an even brighter future.
Finally, I wish you all good health, smooth work, family happiness, and a prosperous Year of the Horse!
Thank you, everyone!