Xi Jinping Expresses Confidence in China's Economy: "Employment and Price Stability"

2024 Chunje New Year Greeting
Expressing "The Scenery Here Is Especially Beautiful"... Dispelling Concerns Over Economic Difficulties

Chinese President Xi Jinping positively evaluated the Chinese economy on the 8th, mentioning employment and price stability.

According to the state-run Xinhua News Agency, President Xi attended the "2024 Lunar New Year Greetings" held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the same day and said, "The economy's recovery and development have driven the total economic volume to exceed 126 trillion yuan (approximately 2,350 trillion won), total grain production has set a new record again, and employment and prices have been generally stable."

He added, "Looking to the world, this place still has particularly beautiful scenery." This expression was used in 1934 when the Communist Party was being chased by the Kuomintang and Mao Zedong was struggling to establish power within the party. President Xi’s reuse of the phrase "this place has particularly beautiful scenery" is interpreted as an intention to dispel negative discourse both inside and outside China. He also used this expression in January 2013 to refute the "China collapse theory."

On the same day, President Xi emphasized, "Scientific and technological innovation has created new breakthroughs, and new productive forces are rapidly emerging," adding, "Reform and opening-up have been continuously deepened, and the new reforms of the Party and state institutions have been basically completed." He also said, "Over the past year, we have fully implemented the new development philosophy, pursued progress while maintaining stability, and boldly executed the transition in COVID-19 prevention and control."

He also mentioned Taiwan and international relations. He stated, "We firmly oppose the separatist acts of 'Taiwan independence' and interference by external forces, while safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests," and added, "We have firmly promoted major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, injecting certainty and positive energy into a chaotic world, and demonstrated responsibility in building a community with a shared future for mankind."