The world is entering 2025 and leaders have sent new year messages to people. Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a speech that was broadcast on New Year’s Eve. Russia’s territory spans 11 time zones and regions in the Far East such as Kamchatka and Chukotka have entered 2025, according to Reuters.
President Vladimir Putin says Russia will move forward in 2025
In his speech, President Putin said that Russia has strengthened its unity in the first 25 years of the 21st century, achieved great achievements, overcame challenges, and its people should be proud of that.
“At this moment, on the threshold of the new year, we are thinking about the future. We are confident that everything will be fine, we will only move forward. We know for sure our absolute value has been, is being and will be the destiny of Russia and the happiness of its people,” President Putin said.
The leader also paid tribute to the soldiers fighting in Ukraine and called them “true heroes”. The speech marked 25 years of Mr. Putin taking power in Russia, replacing his predecessor Boris Yeltsin.
In China, President Xi Jinping also gave a speech, calling on the whole country to be confident in the new year to overcome challenges and pressures, according to Xinhua News Agency. Mr. Xi said that with preparations to complete the 14th five-year plan in 2025, China will implement more proactive and effective policies, prioritizing high-quality development, promoting self-reliance and strength. Strengthen science and technology, maintain the driving force for economic and social development.
The leader said that the world’s No. 2 economy is facing a number of challenges, including the uncertainty of the external environment and the pressure to transition from old growth drivers to new growth drivers. “But we can win with hard work. We will be stronger through difficult times. We must be confident,” Mr. Xi called.
On the other hand, Mr. Xi also mentioned Taiwan in his New Year’s speech, affirming that reunification cannot be stopped, according to AFP. “The Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family. No one can separate our blood ties and no one can stop the historical trend of the motherland’s reunification “, Mr. Xi said.
Previously, Mr. Xi sent a New Year’s greeting to Mr. Putin, saying that the two countries would move forward together to avoid the path of confrontation. “China and Russia always move forward hand in hand, follow the right path, do not form alliances, do not confront and do not act against third parties,” the Chinese leader said.
