On 31 December, 2015, on the eve of the New Year, President Xi Jinping sent the New Year Message for 2016 through China Radio International, China National Radio and China Central Television. Following is the full text:

In a few hours the New Year bell will be ringing. We will bid farewell to 2015 and greet the first ray of sunshine of 2016. At this turn of the year, I wish to extend my New Year greetings to the people of all ethnic groups in China, to our compatriots in the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, to our compatriots in Taiwan and Chinese nationals overseas,and to friends in other countries and regions in the world.

When we make efforts, we will have gains. In 2015, the Chinese people have made tremendous efforts and accomplished a lot. China's growth has continued to rank among the fastest in the world. Reform has been advanced in all sectors. Reform of the judicial system has been further deepened. The six-pronged campaign to strengthen oversight of governance has improved the political environment. The fight against corruption has been intensified. Thanks to efforts made by people of all ethnic groups across the country, the 12th Five-Year Plan has been fully completed. The general public shares a growing sense of satisfaction.

During this past year, we solemnly commemorated the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. We held a grand military parade,sending a strong message to the world that justice will prevail,peace will prevail and the people will prevail. We implemented a strategy to build strong armed forces through all-round reform and announced that China will cut the number of personnel of its armed forces by 300,000. I and Mr. Ma Ying-jeou met in Singapore, realizing a handshake transcending 66 years of time and space. This demonstrates that peaceful growth of relations across the Taiwan Strait represents the common wish of the people on both sides of the Strait.

During this year, Beijing won the bid to host the 24th Winter Olympic Games. The Renminbi has been included into the currency basket of IMF Special Drawing Rights. C919,a big passenger plane independently made by China,rolled off the production line. China's supercomputer broke the world record in terms of calculating speed, being the world's most powerful supercomputer for six times. The Dark Matter Particle Explorer Satellite built by Chinese scientists was launched into space. Tu Youyou became China's first scientist to win a Nobel Prize. All this shows that as long as we persevere, we can surely realize our dreams.

During this year, we have both enjoyed happiness and experienced grief. The capsizing of the Eastern Star ferry,the devastating fire and explosions at the port of Tianjin,the landslide in Shenzhen and other accidents have taken the lives of many of our countrymen,and several countrymen were brutally killed by terrorists. We are deeply saddened by these tragedies. We will cherish their memory. May the deceased rest in peace and the living be safe and well. The people will invariably encounter some difficulties and problems in their daily life. The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the government will continue efforts to ensure the safety of their lives and property, and improve people's livelihood and their health.

In 2016, China will enter a decisive period to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. At its 5th Plenary Session,the 18th CPC Central Committee set China's development direction for the next five years. The future is encouraging and inspiring,yet happiness will not fall from the sky. We should remain firm in our conviction to succeed,continue to work hard and implement the vision of achieving innovative, coordinated,green,open and shared development. We will endeavor to carry out structural reform,accelerate reform and opening-up, promote social equity and justice,and create a sound political environment. Doing so will enable us to get off to a good start in our efforts to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects in this decisive stage.

To build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the 1.3 billion Chinese should forge ahead in a concerted endeavor. To make better life for several dozen million rural poor people is something that is very much on my mind. We have sounded the bugle to win the key battle of poverty alleviation. All Party members and the entire nation should work hard to meet this challenge. We should ensure that all the poor rural people will lift themselves out of poverty within the targeted timeframe. We should care for all those in need and make them feel such warmth from deep in their hearts.

We have only one Earth,the common home of people of all countries. During this year, Chinese leaders have conducted many diplomatic initiatives and attended many international meetings. We have achieved solid progress in pursuing the Belt and Road Initiative. We have engaged in many international activities, including the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and efforts to adapt to global climate change. The world is so big and faces so many problems,and the international community wants to hear China's voice and see China's solutions. China cannot be absent. We should have compassion and sympathy toward people ravaged by sufferings and war. China will always embrace the world with open arms, and we will extend our helping hand to people in difficulty and help them to our best ability. Let our circle of friends grow bigger and bigger.

I sincerely hope that the international community will work together to promote peace and cooperation, turn confrontation into cooperation and turn swords into ploughshares. Let all of us endeavor to build a community of common future for mankind shared by people of all countries.

Thank you!