People encouraged by China's achievements in past year after Xi's 2025 New Year message

Chinese President Xi Jinping's New Year message on Tuesday inspired people across China, with many saying achievements of the past year mentioned by Xi encouraged them to do better in 2025.

Delivering the message on New Year's eve, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, reviewed China's journey in the past year, saying the country and its people "have experienced winds and rains and seen rainbows," and the touching and unforgettable moments are like still frames showing how extraordinary a year China has had.

"President Xi said that the most important job is to ensure a happy life for the people. We now have medical insurance for hospital visits, and the education for our children is free. We also run a homestay business, and our income has increased every year. We have full confidence in the future, and people of all ethnic groups will remain closely united like the seeds of a pomegranate to create a better life together," said a villager in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Xi mentioned China's grain production in his speech, which encouraged a farmer in central China's Henan Province.

"I was greatly encouraged by President Xi's message, which said our country's grain production surpassed 700 million tons in 2024, and 'China's bowls are now filled with more Chinese grain.' We grain farmers are full of confidence, and we must work harder and stay focused, make good use of modern agricultural technology to improve grain output and quality," said grain farmer Cui Meihong.

Xi also spoke highly of Chinese athletes, saying their performance at the Paris Olympics fully demonstrated the vigor and confidence of young Chinese.

"President Xi mentioned us athletes forging ahead in his New Year message. In 2025, I will keep pushing myself to achieve more, show the morale and sharpness of Chinese youth in the new era, show the open, inclusive, high-spirited and enterprising image of our country in the new era, and inspire more people to strive for their dreams with my sportsmanship," said Chinese shooter Sheng Lihao, who won two gold medals at the Paris Olympics.

In the past year, China fostered new quality productive forces in light of actual conditions, Xi said in his speech.

For the first time, China produced more than 10 million new energy vehicles in a year, and breakthroughs were made in integrated circuit, artificial intelligence, quantum communications and many other fields, Xi said.

He also mentioned the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, a mega cross-sea passage in south China that features two bridges, two artificial islands, and an underwater tunnel.

"General Secretary Xi mentioned the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link in the New Year message. Since it opened to traffic six months ago, more than 15 million car trips have been made on it. We will manage and utilize the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link well, and provide better transport service for the cause of building the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into a strategic pivot of the new development pattern, a demonstration site for high-quality development, and a leading site for Chinese modernization," said Yang Yang, deputy director of the management center of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link.

"As a worker in the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry, I am extremely proud of the rapid development of China's NEV sector. Technologies such as automated robots, 5G communications and digital twins have greatly improved our work efficiency, and I will continue to work with passion in 2025 to build better cars for our customers and create greater value for society," said autoworker Wang Yun.

"China's achievements in integrated circuit, artificial intelligence and quantum communications mentioned by President Xi have greatly encouraged us. We will strive courageously to promote the miniaturization and chip-based development of quantum communications, and contribute more of our wisdom and power to building China's strength in science and technology," said Tang Shibiao, head of the Anhui Quantum Computing Engineering Research Center.

People encouraged by China's achievements in past year after Xi's 2025 New Year message

Artificial intelligence and robotics, both major topics of discussion at the ongoing Boao Forum this year, are also being widely adopted at the event as ways to improve the service inside and outside the venue.

The BFA Annual Conference 2026 is being held in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. Running from March 24 to 27, this year's conference is themed "Shaping a Shared Future: New Dynamics, New Opportunities, New Cooperation."

A water generator at the venue cools and condenses moisture from the air into water, then filters and sterilizes it. It can also run on solar power for a completely off-grid, zero-carbon operation.

Meanwhile, a special robot barista operates a coffee stand where guests can order a drink with the press of a button, prompting the robotic arm to get to work -- grabbing a cup, brewing, and frothing -- all in one smooth motion.

The venue has also adopted an AI-based management system, which can automatically adjust a range of factors based on current conditions and detect and respond to anomalies when they occur.

These sorts of systems are already being adopted at a wider scale across Hainan.

"This is our operational management center for the zero-carbon demonstration zone. It’s powered by an AI-driven system that manages all energy consumption and carbon emissions. From here, we can remotely control over three thousand devices across the island with a click, including air conditioners and lighting. It's smart management, done remotely," said Zeng Youwen, chief general engineer of the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design Hainan Branch.

Outside the venue, some smart equipment is also sharing the workload. On Boao's coastline, a beach-cleaning robot moves along the shore, sweeping up cigarette butts, debris, and coconut shells.

The robots can work before visitors arrive or after sunset, cleaning up to 3,000 square meters of beach per hour. In the water, a diving robot that clears debris and even has emergency rescue capabilities.

These on-site applications of emerging technologies have helped spur discussions at the forum on how the deep integration of technology and industry is gaining momentum as China enters the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

"Industries can only be upgraded by applying the new technologies, by applying AI, by applying other innovative technology, science and technology, there should all be injected into industries. And that's how the industries are going to produce high quality products. And you will have high quality productive forces that will change the lifestyle, the living standard of the Chinese people and the people living beyond," said Sohail Khan, deputy secretary-general of Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Founded in 2001, the BFA is a non-governmental and non-profit international organization committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries closer to their development goals.

Robots, AI facilitate guest services at Boao Forum venue