Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his New Year address that "the past year has been a year of exceptional significance." Xi also mentioned the "Two Centenary Goals", saying that China is working to build a modern socialist country in all respects and making strides on the path toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. For more comments on the achievements of the past 100 years, CGTN talks to Su Xiaohui from the China Institute of International Studies. She says Xi's speech sends a clear signal to the international audience that China will continue to step forward in its way of development.

In the New Year address, Xi also said that many foreign leaders and international organizations have praised China's fight against COVID-19 and contribution to the global COVID response. For more comments, CGTN talks to Professor Josef Gregory Mahoney from the East China Normal University. He mentions that there are two types of significance of China's contributions to the global COVID response: the vaccine development and support, and China's remarkable containment efforts.