Xi touts China’s AI, chip wins in triumphant New Year’s speech

President Xi Jinping highlighted China’s achievements in artificial intelligence and the chip industry in a triumphant New Year’s Eve speech as he called for more confidence in the country’s development path in the year ahead.

“China has become one of the world’s fastest-rising economies in terms of innovative capacity,” he declared in a televised address on Wednesday beamed to the nation’s 1.4 billion people, in which he touted China’s achievements in large AI models and breakthroughs in chip research and development.

The Chinese leader underscored the role of innovation in his government’s aim for high-quality economic development and the integration of technology and industry, citing the advancements in humanoid robots and drones. He also touted China’s progress in aerospace and defense, pointing to the country’s latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, which is equipped with a new electromagnetic catapult launch system.

China had “overcome numerous difficulties and challenges” to meet the targets set out in its 14th Five-Year Plan, Xi said, adding that the country’s gross domestic product is on track to reach 140 trillion yuan ($20 trillion) in 2025. 

“Our economic, technological and national defense capabilities, along with our overall national strength, have risen...