Xi's 2024 New Year message: People-centric development as defining theme

Editor's note: Hannan Hussain, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is an author and assistant research associate at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

In his 2024 New Year message, Chinese President Xi Jinping resolved to deepen citizen trust in future development, and provided a blueprint to advance livelihood, education and economic opportunities with firm conviction. "We will continue to act on the principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, promoting stability through progress, and establishing the new before abolishing the old," said Xi.

China's noble goal of "delivering a better life" for its citizens captures the gist of responsible governance. On the education front, the number of Chinese college graduates in 2024 is anticipated to exceed 11.7 million, making it a pivotal year to revitalize the country's job market and promote quality career progression for its talent dividend.

Over two-dozen measures are already in place to boost employment and strengthen China's education-industry nexus. It is a country home to nearly 900 million working-age individuals, and the largest higher education system in the world. Thus, treatment of good education and career mobility as "top" government priorities spells wonders for China's principal asset, that is, its people.

Ahead of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, high-quality economic development continues to serve as a constant for rapid modernization and growth achievement. China is widely expected to satisfy its 2023 growth target, and is on course to inject steady momentum into next year's economic recovery. More "advanced, smart and green industries" in China point to the promise and potential of a rapidly modernized industrial system.

Xi's remarks also offered an apt reading of China's signature rural revitalization, a central consideration to transform China's agricultural sector and shape people's livelihoods in the rural countryside. Rapid progress is evident across China's northeast, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Yangtze River Economic Belt. All this contributes to the diversity of China's rural industries, which in turn can drive momentum toward future poverty alleviation progress.

Given how peace and development go hand in hand, China continues to recognize the importance of long-term stability at both the national and international levels. Xi resolved to achieve China's peaceful reunification while pointing to raging conflicts worldwide.

The recently concluded Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs featured a range of peace-building priorities to propel China's major power diplomacy and future work. Among them lies the role of China's head-of-state diplomacy in fostering peaceful coexistence among nations. Such visionary leadership and strategic guidance has helped position China as an increasingly critical and constructive player in international affairs.

From historic Saudi-Iranian rapprochement and Global South activism to UN Security Council imperatives on Israel and Palestine, efforts reinforce China's view that it is indeed "keenly aware of what peace means."

Looking ahead, one of the hallmarks of China's foreign policy is its pursuit for high-quality development opportunities with the international community. In Xi's own telling, the past year has been marked by enhanced common understandings with a range of diplomatic partners. Mutually beneficial cooperation also remains a decisive factor in navigating a changing global landscape.

With 2024 at the center, optimism certainly runs high. According to JPMorgan, China is likely to address any risks to financial stability, reflecting positively on state efforts to ensure a conducive and resilient growth atmosphere for foreign companies and businesses. Areas spanning the digital economy, AI development, and green technologies are also expected to attract more investment in 2024.

These prospects come at a time when the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative is increasingly focused on high-value international collaborations spanning green infrastructure, green transportation and smart energies. 2024 will also mark the beginning of a period (2024-2028) when China's total trade in goods is anticipated to top $32 trillion. The determination to "work closely with the international community for the common good of humanity" couldn't be clearer.

In sum, an admirable focus on people-centric development, peace and stability strikes at the heart of China's forward-looking leadership vision.

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