ISTANBUL

China’s President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for national “strategic resolve” to weather “dangerous storms” as the world’s second-largest economy was on its path to grow at “around 5%.”

“On the journey of Chinese modernization,” Xi told a gathering of China's top political advisory body, “we will not only encounter clear skies and gentle breezes, but also face high winds, choppy waters, and even dangerous storms.”

Xi was addressing the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference on the eve of the New Year, according to parts of his speech released on Chinese state media.

Reiterating his pledge that China would deepen its reform, expand opening up, and coordinate development and security, the 71-year-old Chinese leader said the world’s second-largest economy was expected to have grown around 5% this year.

Beijing had set a 5% target in annual GDP growth for 2024.

In the outgoing year, he said: “Faced with challenges arising from both domestic and international situations, China responded calmly with a full range of steps, meeting the major economic and social development targets for the year.”

“We must maintain strategic resolve and pool the great strength of all Chinese people striving in unity to cut through the waves and forge ahead with courage,” said Xi, who is serving an unprecedented third term as the Chinese president, as well as the secretary-general of Communist Party of China.

In a separate New Year message, Xi said: “The economy has rebounded and is on an upward trajectory, with the national GDP expected to pass the mark of 130 trillion yuan (about $18.08 trillion) and the country's grain output surpassing 700 million tons.”

In a broad reference to emerging technologies, Xi said China had fostered "new quality productive forces," and that new business sectors, forms, and models have “kept emerging.”

“For the first time, China has produced more than 10 million new energy vehicles in a year, and breakthroughs have been made in fields including integrated circuit, artificial intelligence and quantum communications,” he added.