China's bright future Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

With the protraction and resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic of the century, the difficult recovery of the global economy and the turmoil of the international situation, humanity has entered the year 2022. Facing so much uncertainty, people hope that in 2022, the pandemic will end as soon as possible and life can get back on track, instead of a "Twenty Twenty-Too."
In the new year, China has been given more attention and expectations. "Recovery in the world's economy is dependent on China," titled a report of The Times on Thursday. "Given that it is widely seen as the engine of the global economy, it is fair to say that no growth story will be followed more closely worldwide over the next year than China's." As the largest contributor to global economic growth, China's economic growth will affect the world's positive trend to a large extent.
Looking back at 2021, China acted as a force supporting world economic growth, provided confidence for the global COVID-19 fight and left shining footprints in the vast universe. Over 1.4 billion Chinese people have worked hard with united will, gathering into a torrent of China's high spirits in the new era and writing a new chapter in building a community with a shared future for mankind. 
As Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his 2022 New Year address, "In the passage of time, we have seen and experienced a resilient and dynamic China."
"The world is turning its eyes to China, and China is ready," Xi said. In just over a month, the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will open. In the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world needs to "work together for a shared future" and build a consensus to join hands to meet the challenge. In 2022, Chengdu and Hangzhou will also host the 2021 Summer World University Games and the 2022 Asian Games. The new Olympic motto of "Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together" and the important concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind have intertwined on the Chinese soil, becoming a beam of hope that illuminates the path ahead for the world.
Whether it is enthusiastically hosting international sports events or actively responding to climate change, helping global pandemic prevention and control or promoting a new type of economic globalization, high-quality construction of the Belt and Road Initiative or building a platform for multilateral dialogue and cooperation - Chinese people always believe that the international status of a country is measured by its openness of mind, breadth of vision and sense of responsibility rather than its size, strength or power. Internally, we adhere to the people-centred principle. Externally, we promote building a community with a shared future for mankind. This is the just logic of China's development.
In terms of the global COVID-19 fight, China has always practised the idea of "putting people and lives first" and adhered to the dynamic zero-case policy. Therefore, China has not only done its utmost to protect its more than 1.4 billion citizens, but also helped save numerous lives around the world through practical actions. China has provided more than 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to over 120 countries and international organizations as of December 26.
In terms of the global cause of poverty reduction, China has accomplished the building of a moderately prosperous society in 2021, and the country's citizens, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the world's population, is embarking on a new journey of building a modern socialist country in a comprehensive way. In recent years, the number of people living in poverty has increased all over the world and the global cause of poverty relief has encountered bottlenecks. Against this backdrop, China's glorious achievements in poverty alleviation have made important contributions to global poverty reduction and injected firm confidence and strength into it.
In the construction of ecological civilization, China's forest resources have increased by more than 70 million hectares over the past decade, ranking first in the world. China has built the world's largest clean energy system, with the installed capacity and power generation of photovoltaic and wind energy all ranking first worldwide. China's production, sales and ownership of new energy vehicles account for more than half of the world's total, making outstanding contributions to global sustainable development.
As the world's most populous country and the world's largest developing country, China is doing its own business in the right way, which is already a contribution to the world. And China has made promises and taken actions to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
The year 2022 is a major year for politics globally. The US will hold mid-term elections, and general elections will take place in South Korea, France, Australia, the Philippines and Brazil. As important countries on five continents enter the election season, there will be more uncertainty in the world under the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the Communist Party of China (CPC) will hold its 20th National Congress. 
This political party, which inscribes "work to build a community with a shared future for mankind, and advance the building of a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity" into its constitution, is not only the backbone of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, but will also continuously provide certainty and positive energy to the world.
In the new year, the global economy is still facing a huge test. Challenges such as repeated COVID-19 outbreaks, supply chain bottlenecks, rising inflation, fragmented recoveries, as well as spillover effects of the US and other developed economies tightening monetary policies, could bring more risks to the global economy. For China, facing the triple pressure of "shrinking demand, supply shocks, and weakening expectations," stability and progress will be the basic tone of the whole year. "A pine tree stands tall and straight despite heavy snow pressure." The vicissitudes of history has given Chinese people the confidence to face the future. All current difficulties and challenges will eventually become footnotes as we march forward.
The river is rushing and the road is far. In the new year, on the new journey of building a modern socialist country in a comprehensive way, China will continue to bring benefits to its people and make contributions to the world. That is because China is "a country with its amicable and respectable people, a country developing rapidly with each passing day, and a country making continual progress in all its undertakings." That is because we are walking on a path of Chinese-style modernization: We will get rid of the Western logic that "a strong country will seek hegemony" and insist on peaceful development.
A China in peace and prosperity is a blessing to the world.