China’s Xi says nation faces ‘arduous’ reform, stability tasks

CHINESE president Xi Jinping said the nation faces “very arduous” reform, development and stability tasks next year, after having “smoothly” achieved economic and social targets for 2024.

Xi urged officials at all levels to identify people’s most urgent needs and solve their most pressing issues, state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Friday (Dec 27), citing a Politburo meeting he chaired.

The nation will further deepen reforms to help its economic recovery and complete the targets laid out in its current Five-Year Plan ending in 2025, the report said, without elaborating on the stimulus efforts for 2025. The meeting was convened to discuss Xi’s thoughts on Chinese socialism.

Xi also said the Communist Party should fight against corruption with an “extremely resolute” attitude, and members of the Politburo vowed to be more “steadfast” in supporting the central leadership and enforcing its decisions, the CCTV report said.

China’s top policymakers have adopted a more pro-growth policy stance for next year, including pledges to use fiscal tools, as a new Trump presidency could lead to more US tariffs. BLOOMBERG