Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed China's "confidence and determination" to safeguard its sovereignty and security regardless of the "international situation."<br />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." <br />He didn't not elaborate further.<br />However, he expressed Beijing's wish to maintain world peace and play an active role in the international community. <br />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."<br />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. <br />
