International scholars: President Xi's New Year message inspires nation and the world

Chinese President Xi Jinping's 2026 New Year message has been branded "inspiring" by global experts and scholars, who lauded the address for reflecting China's vitality, development and responsible role in the world.

Beyond a typical year-in-review, Xi's message focused on a forward-looking vision, charting the course for future development.

"China is pressing ahead, which is exactly what President Xi wants to emphasize," French scholar Camille Sari said. It was an address filled with optimism, he added. 

In one key example, China's development is reflected in the rapid rise of urban projects, Sari, who has firsthand experience of the country, says. 

"In my view, President Xi's speech was a report demonstrating his systemic execution capabilities," said Andy Mok, senior research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization. In his analysis, Xi's message lays the foundation for even greater achievements in 2026 and beyond.

Under the timeframe of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), China has more confidently consolidated its position as one of the world's leading economies, becoming a major force in shaping the interconnected global system, said Andrey Denisov, first deputy chair of Russia's Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs.

"More importantly, China prioritizes the quality of its economic development, a point repeatedly emphasized by President Xi and the Chinese government," he said.

China is forging ahead firmly along the path of reform, which is not only about the deepening of its modernization drive and the improvement of people's livelihoods, but also about showing the world how to build a better future, said Alexander Lebedev, director general and editor-in-chief of the TV channel "Big Asia" (Russian Federation).

Experts and scholars also said Xi's message embodies China's development philosophy and vision placing people's well-being at its core.

From "chasing dreams" and "Chinese modernization" to "high-quality development," "new quality productive forces" and "technological innovation," President Xi presented his vision for the development of the country in a very organized manner, said Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation in the United States.

Acting Deputy Director-General responsible for China-South Africa relations at South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation Zodwa Lallie said the message Xi conveyed is not only directed inwards, but also outwards to the world.

Praising China's development achievements, Lallie said the country, through its own consistent progress, stays actively committed to driving the common development of all nations.

Bongani Maimele, director of international relations at South Africa's National School of Government, said the suite of global initiatives proposed by Xi have been widely welcomed by countries around the world, adding that a majority of African countries align with China's development vision and goals. 

"What impresses me the most from President Xi's message is that he stressed that 'no issue of the people is too small,'"said Michael Schumann, chairman of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade, adding that the purpose of development is the happiness of the people.