Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed support for the country’s vulnerable elderly and youth in a new year address that acknowledged the strains on some of the 1.4bn-strong population. Xi’s speech comes after his economic planners have for much of the past four years struggled to restore consumer confidence or address rising youth unemployment and slow wage growth.

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

In a clear warning to what Beijing view as pro-independence forces within and outside of Taiwan, China's President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said that no one can stop China's reunification with Taiwan. While addressing his New Year's speech which was televised on China's state broadcaster CCTV,

Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized China's commitment to global governance reform and assursed the people about the economy saying that the country has proactively responded to the impacts of the changing environment at home and abroad.

China's President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that "no one can stop" unification with Taiwan, as he addressed the nation in a New Year's speech.