by Xinhua writers He Xiyue, Liu Jie

BEIJING, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- The horse, a popular symbol in Chinese culture, represents not just swiftness but also perseverance and the indomitable will to overcome.

As the country with 1.4 billion people celebrates the traditional Spring Festival, the Year of the Horse puts this iconic symbol in the global spotlight.

To truly grasp the pulse of China in 2026, one can examine the metaphor of the cantering horse: a unique striving spirit that combines ambition with patience, a collective goal with individual grit, and ongoing progress with sustainability.

Today, this ethos is palpable across the nation. It is seen when engineers improve high-speed rail technology to connect remote regions, when rural entrepreneurs leverage e-commerce to revitalize their hometowns, and when young scientists work tirelessly in labs to achieve technological breakthroughs.

A popular Chinese idiom related to the horse is "yi ma dang xian," which means "galloping at the head or taking the lead." Indeed, at a time of global economic uncertainty, profound shifts and transformation, China has moved first in many key areas.

For example, the recent launch of island-wide special customs operations of the Hainan Free Trade Port in south China, marked a step toward deeper institutional opening up, linking regional development more closely with global resources. Also, China has built the world's largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system, which has helped cut global wind and solar power costs by more than 60 percent and 80 percent, respectively, over the past decade, thus accelerating the global green transition.

China has been contributing roughly 30 percent of global economic growth for many years, remaining one of the world's most stable and reliable growth engines. Amid intensifying geopolitical risks and a sluggish global recovery, China is seeking to strengthen its internal resilience and capacity to offset external shocks.

One of China's core strengths is its spirit of pursuing forward momentum and continuous exploration. In 2025, China's R&D spending exceeded 3.9 trillion yuan (about 562 billion U.S. dollars), ranking second globally for many years running. China has become the first country to amass over 5 million valid domestic invention patents.

China's development achievements have not fallen from the sky, but were realized through the persistent efforts of the Chinese people. An opinion piece carried by U.S. financial media outlet Bloomberg in December noted that "2025 has been full of dramatic twists and turns. One of the most consequential takeaways is to never, ever underestimate China."

Once the journey to rejuvenation begins, there is no turning back. For China, its enduring vigor and spirit of endeavor serve as powerful driving forces in confronting the dual tests of internal transition and external headwinds, as the country enters its 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

China's response, rooted in social stability, bold innovation and a zeal for cooperation, is not a pursuit of narrow self-interest but a move forward with unwavering determination, alongside all peace-loving nations.

Domestically, China will continue to deepen reform in key areas, unlock the vitality of its super-large market, promote high-quality development, narrow its urban-rural gap, improve its people's well-being, and ensure that the fruits of its progress are shared equitably.

Externally, China will remain a steadfast defender of multilateralism, a promoter of global cooperation, and a contributor to world peace and development. It will expand its high-standard opening up, uphold the rules-based international trading system, and work with partners to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity.

An article of Fortune Magazine, a U.S. publication, recently shared a positive outlook on China in 2026. It said that "what draws companies to China -- scale, innovation and global influence -- remain as compelling as ever."

The horse is a symbol of mutual assistance and partnership in Chinese culture, and China will continue to stand with other developing countries and the Global South, while also supporting their efforts to pursue independent development.

The Year of the Horse is a clarion call for perseverance, courage and unity. For China, the journey ahead may not be smooth, but the spirit of the galloping horse will always drive the nation forward.

As the saying goes: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." In the Year of the Horse, China will keep forging ahead with firm resolve, deliver a good start to its 15th Five-Year Plan, and bring more opportunities and hope to the world. ■