Yearender: Xi leads China through a pivotal 2025

RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY

In 2025, global turbulence deepened as the specters of Cold War mentalities, hegemonism and protectionism continued to haunt the international landscape.

Against this backdrop, Xi put forth the Global Governance Initiative at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in September. This came after Xi announced three global initiatives on development, security, and civilization in prior years.

"I look forward to working with all countries for a more just and equitable global governance system," he said.

Xi always walks his talk. In April, after attending a central conference on neighborhood diplomacy, Xi began his visits to three Southeast Asian countries. Over the past year, his itinerary stretched from there to Russia, Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), weaving a dense web of regional engagement. He likened these visits to "calling on relatives," stressing that "helping our neighbors succeed is helping ourselves."

At a time when calls for decoupling, severing industrial chains, and putting self-interest first were prevalent, these trips yielded substantial gains in cooperation, bringing much-needed stability and long-term hope to the region amid volatile international landscape.

Under Xi's leadership, China also fostered positive interaction and coordination with major countries in 2025, helping anchor global strategic stability. Xi and Trump held their first meeting in six years in Busan, the ROK, in October.

"China and the United States can jointly shoulder our responsibility as major countries, and work together to accomplish more great and concrete things for the good of our two countries and the whole world," Xi said.

In 2025, Xi also hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin, held in-depth discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron beside a millennia-old dam in southwest China, and collaborated with EU leaders to chart a brighter future for relations over the next 50 years. "Big countries should behave in a manner befitting their status and with a greater sense of responsibility," he has said.

During his November visit to China, King Tupou VI of the Kingdom of Tonga planted Juncao grass at a university in eastern Fujian province.

Over the years, the versatile Chinese technology for food production, livestock feed, and ecological restoration has delivered tangible benefits for Pacific island nations and many developing countries. Xi has said that the modernization China pursues is "not for China alone."

Today, over three-quarters of the world's countries have joined the Belt and Road Initiative, and China-Europe freight trains have logged 120,000 trips. China hosted international expos on imports, supply chains, and consumer goods to expand win-win opportunities.

Over the past year, Xi championed women's development at the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women in Beijing, launched initiatives with Latin American and Caribbean countries, pushed for a zero-tariff treatment to 100 percent of tariff lines for 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to China, and announced China's new Nationally Determined Contributions in his video remarks at the UN Climate Summit.

"China always stands on the right side of history, and is ready to work with all countries to advance world peace and development and build a community with a shared future for humanity," Xi said in his 2026 New Year message.