"The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family," Mr Xi said in a speech televised on China's state broadcaster CCTV. “No one can sever our family bonds, and no one can stop the historical trend of national reunification.”

Weeks before Trump takes office, the Chinese leader is seeking to shore up confidence that China’s economy can withstand threats.

The Chinese President put out a clear warning to pro-independence forces in his New Year message. Read more at straitstimes.com.

China's 2024 gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to exceed 130 trillion yuan ($17.8 trillion), President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday in his New Year's address, adding that the country would implement more proactive policies to promote growth in 2025.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said China and Russia have always moved forward "hand in hand" on the right path, the official Chinese news agency Xinhua said on Tuesday, months after the two countries struck a new era strategic partnership on key issues.

Xi emphasized that China and Russia consistently advance together on a "path of non-alliance, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third party," according to the official Chinese news agency Xinhua.

In a powerful New Year’s message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed the enduring strength of the China-Russia partnership, vowing to continue fostering global peace and development.