Key Takeaways
- Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to deliver his annual New Year's address for 2026 on Wednesday evening, December 31, 2025, as reported by state news agency Xinhua.
- The speech is highly anticipated for insights into China's economic performance in 2025, with previous statements by Xi indicating an expected GDP growth of "around 5 percent" for the year, despite challenges in the property sector and consumer sentiment.
- Analysts expect Xi to reiterate the nation's commitment to "high-quality development," technological self-reliance, and national unity, including stances on Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to deliver his much-anticipated New Year's message to ring in 2026 at 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 31, 2025. The address, a traditional annual event, will be broadcast across major television and radio channels of the China Media Group, as well as prominent news organizations like Xinhua News Agency and People's Daily. This speech comes at a critical juncture, offering an opportunity for Xi to reflect on China's achievements in 2025 and outline the nation's priorities for the coming year.
The address is expected to heavily focus on China's economic trajectory in 2025. President Xi previously stated that China's economy was on track to meet its growth target of "around 5 percent" for the year, describing 2025 as an "extraordinary year". This growth, if confirmed, would align with the 5 percent expansion recorded in 2024. Despite this optimistic outlook, the economy has faced considerable headwinds, including a prolonged crisis in the property sector, dampened consumer sentiment, and heightened trade tensions with major global partners.
In his previous New Year's address for 2025, delivered on December 31, 2024, Xi emphasized "high-quality development" and significant advancements in areas such as new energy vehicles and artificial intelligence. He also highlighted China's GDP surpassing the 130 trillion yuan ($17.7 trillion) mark in 2024. It is expected that the upcoming speech will reinforce these themes, underscoring China's push for technological self-reliance and innovation to drive future growth.
Beyond economic matters, President Xi's address is likely to touch upon China's geopolitical stances. Past speeches have consistently reaffirmed the "One Country, Two Systems" policy for Hong Kong and Macao, and reiterated the determination for the reunification of Taiwan with the mainland. Xi has also used these platforms to emphasize China's role as a responsible global actor, promoting global governance reform and fostering solidarity among the Global South. The speech will be closely watched by international observers for any signals regarding China's foreign policy and its approach to global challenges in 2026.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.