Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed China's "confidence and determination" to safeguard its sovereignty and security regardless of the "international situation."
In his New Year's address, Xi said there would be "huge," unprecedented changes in the New Year, as China "opens its eyes to the world."
He didn't not elaborate further.
However, he expressed Beijing's wish to maintain world peace and play an active role in the international community.
The Chinese leader also pledged that the country would continue its efforts to modernise and open up its economy, saying its pace of reform would not "stagnate."
However, he noted there would be "opportunities and challenges" in the New Year, although he did not specifically mention Beijing's trade war with Washington.