World leaders call for courage, efforts to make 2020 a better year

BEIJING -- In their New Year messages, leaders of various countries have called for courage and efforts to make 2020 a better year, and overcome challenges as we enter a new decade.

In a New Year speech delivered on Tuesday evening, President Xi Jinping pledged to achieve the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects for China in the "milestone" year.

Xi stressed the year as "crucial in winning the anti-poverty battle" in China, and voiced the hope for a prosperous and stable Hong Kong. "We are not afraid of winds and rains, or any kind of difficulties," said the Chinese president.

Xi reiterated China's commitment to peaceful development, world peace and common development, saying "we stand ready to join hands with people around the world to actively build the Belt and Road, push for the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, and work tirelessly to create a better future for humanity."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his New Year message for the Russian people: "We are living in turbulent, dynamic and contradictory times, but we can and must do everything for Russia to develop successfully, so that everything in our lives changes only for the better."

He called for unity and concerted efforts by the Russian people, noting "our personal plans and dreams are inseparable from Russia."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in her New Year's Eve address, appealed for courage and confidence of the German people to meet the challenges of the new decade.

She emphasized the need to halt climate change, a "real" threat. The younger generation will have to live with the consequences of climate change if politicians do not act, Merkel said, adding that she will do her utmost to ensure that Germany "makes its contribution ecologically, economically, socially" to get the issue under control.

In the New Year's Eve address broadcast live on Tuesday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to push through the government's pension reform plan, which was met with union-led national strikes in December.

"The pension reform will be fully carried out," said Macron, adding he hopes to quickly find a compromise with unions.