Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a New Year message via China Media Group and the Internet Sunday evening in Beijing to ring in 2024. Photo:Xinhua

For many Chinese people, sitting in front of the TV at 7 pm on December 31 every year has become a unique tradition. They tune in to listen to Chinese President Xi Jinping's New Year address. His warm and resolute voice has been encouraging the Chinese people to stride toward a brighter future and overcome challenges, as they bid farewell to the old year and welcome a new year brimming with hope.

At this year's New Year address, Xi said China has forged ahead with resolve and tenacity in 2023.

"The people are the ones we look to when we fight to prevail over all difficulties or challenges," Xi said, noting that the Chinese people have gone through the test of winds and rains, and have made plenty real achievements.

Xi said China's ultimate goal is about delivering a better life for the people. "Our children should be well taken care of and receive good education. Our young people should have the opportunities to pursue their careers and succeed. And our elderly people should have adequate access to medical services and elderly care," Xi said.

These issues matter to every family, and they are also a top priority of the government, the Chinese president stressed.

As the country achieved a smooth transition in COVID-19 response efforts, China's economy has sustained the momentum of recovery, weathered the storm and became "more resilient and dynamic than before," Xi said in his address.

Xi also hailed the country's modernized industrial system as well as innovation-driven development, citing the C919 large passenger airliner, the Chinese-built large cruise ship, the Shenzhou spaceships and the deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe as examples.

The inspiring words of Xi soon became trending on various social media platforms including Chinese X-like Sina Weibo and Xiaohongshu, as they touched countless Chinese people's hearts.

"His words are warm and empowering," commented one netizen on Sina Weibo.

Recalling the year 2023, China has made remarkable achievements in various aspects. The successful convening of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation highlighted the significant global recognition of this international public project. China's status and reputation in international affairs have also garnered widespread acknowledgment, while the economy has sustained stable and resilient growth overall, analysts said.

Social harmony has seen a general improvement, alongside an unprecedented strengthening of national cohesion, experts reached by the Global Times said.

"Managing a major country like China requires exceptional wisdom and mature policies. Looking at other major nations today, the management of the US is in disarray, with many scholars warning of impending internal conflicts; meanwhile, European countries are deeply embroiled in internal troubles. In today's world, China's governance and performance has stood out as one of the best among major powers," Li Haidong, a professor from the Institute of International Relations from the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Another highlight for this year's speech was an emphasis on peace and stability.

While noting that conflicts are still raging in some parts of the world, Xi said in his New Year speech that peace and development remain the underlying trend, no matter how the global landscape may evolve, and only cooperation for mutual benefit can deliver.

China, which has fulfilled its responsibility as a major country, will work closely with the international community to build a community with a shared future for mankind, and make the world a better place, Xi said.

The Chinese leader also pointed out that China will "surely be reunified," and all Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits should be bound by a common sense of purpose and share in the glory of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Sunday that China has always highly valued peace and stability, as our prosperous days and quality of life stem from the harmonious environment the country has fostered. It is hard-won, and it demands our utmost endeavor. Xi's message has suggested that China will continue to spare no efforts to maintain national stability and global peace.