State Council Information Office New Year Reception: New Year, New Expectations, New Aspirations
As evening approaches, the lights along Chang’an Avenue are illuminated once again. With less than two weeks to go, the new year of 2025 is fast approaching. As per tradition, the New Year Reception hosted by the State Council Information Office is held in mid to late December, and this year is no exception.
On the evening of December 18, the State Council Information Office held its New Year Reception for 2025 in the White Jade Hall of the National Museum of China. Attendees included spokespersons from central and national agencies, foreign diplomats in China, representatives from international organizations, and journalists from both Chinese and foreign media. During the event, the list of Chinese government spokespersons for 2025 was also released.
The venue featured cold dishes, allowing guests to enjoy delicious food and engage in open conversation in a warm atmosphere. Outside, a special exhibition area showcased intangible cultural heritage, with displays including Yangliuqing New Year paintings, wool flowers, fabric tigers, and Chinese calligraphy, captivating both domestic and international guests.
During the event, several spokespersons shared insights with media representatives. They not only reviewed the work of 2024 but also expressed expectations and visions for the upcoming 2025 year, filled with new hopes and aspirations.
Providing Better Responses to Public Concerns
Mi Feng, spokesperson for the National Health Commission, was one of the first to arrive at the venue, immediately drawing media attention. His responses to reporters’ enthusiastic questions were both professional and empathetic. “The health department needs to gradually provide the public with more authoritative and scientific health information,” he emphasized, frequently mentioning the importance of being authoritative and scientific throughout the evening.
In 2024, the National Health Commission launched a series of press conferences focusing on seasonal health topics. Mi Feng highlighted, “The bi-weekly press conferences are the most significant work we accomplished in 2024. Our idea is to meet the public’s demand for health knowledge; the more we do, the fewer misconceptions the public will have. We aim to make health science communication more authoritative, easily understandable, and widely utilized by the public.”
In an interview with The Paper, Mi Feng noted, “I’ve seen the comments, and the public is very supportive, especially many elderly friends who are increasingly willing to pay attention to health knowledge published on the Health China WeChat public account. Each time we analyze the comments, we find the public’s questions and hopes motivate us to strive even harder to meet their demand for more authoritative health information.”
He also mentioned efforts to combat false health information, indicating that the National Health Commission’s official website has launched a rumor-refuting platform. “This platform not only disseminates debunking knowledge but also allows the public to submit questionable leads. When confirmed as false health information, it will also be addressed on the platform.”
On January 30 of this year, at the first routine press conference of 2024 held by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Pei Xiaofei made her debut as the new Director of the Publicity and Education Department and spokesperson. She replaced Liu Youbin, who retired in November last year.
As a “new face” at the reception, Pei Xiaofei candidly stated, “This is my first time meeting so many journalist friends.” Despite being a newcomer to the reception, she appeared composed, stating that she was not nervous about engaging with reporters but focused on doing her job well, which gave her confidence.
Reflecting on her year as a spokesperson, Pei Xiaofei expressed considerable sentiment. “The nature and content of my work have changed significantly compared to my previous role. I used to be primarily in operational departments, dealing with standards and researching policies and regulations. I believe public communication has its own professionalism, and it has been pleasant to collaborate with everyone here; there are also some new changes.”
She elaborated on her new experiences, noting that not only had her work content changed, but her understanding of news content release had also become more intuitive. “Previously, policy departments drafted policies that industry professionals understood, but to make them comprehensible to the public, some translation is necessary, ensuring we communicate in terms the public can grasp. Hence, every press conference has specific requirements for colleagues to use everyday language as much as possible.”
When asked how to better respond to public concerns, Pei Xiaofei expressed her views candidly. She emphasized that it is essential to truthfully explain the status of environmental quality and the challenges faced in environmental work. “As discussed, in the initial years, we strengthened enterprise management and improved clean heating, which produced immediate effects, but now that work is mostly completed. The next step to genuinely improve air quality requires real changes in energy and industrial structures.”
Moving Forward Through Challenges
At the reception, Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, was immediately surrounded by the media as he arrived. Questions came in quick succession.
Wu Qian highlighted significant developments for the Ministry of National Defense in 2024, noting, “We have experienced many major events and accomplished many things we aimed for. Notably, we launched official accounts on Douyin and Kuaishou, which help us effectively communicate in the current media landscape.” He also acknowledged the complex circumstances faced in 2024 and stated, “Our news releases have achieved commendable results.”
However, he also noted challenges, stating, “There are difficulties, but I have always liked the saying, ‘the more dangerous, the more we advance.’ Challenges exist, but with support from the public and military personnel, we can overcome obstacles.”
That afternoon, after concluding a routine press conference, Lin Jian, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hurried to the reception, marking his first appearance at such an event. He informed the assembled media that he did not even have time to change clothes, opting instead to change his tie before arriving to show respect and courtesy. Official records show that Lin Jian officially took over as the Ministry’s spokesperson on March 18, 2024, becoming the 34th spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has long been jokingly referred to as the “most difficult” spokesperson due to the Ministry’s routine press conferences held every working day and the need to handle complex international and domestic situations along with various journalists’ inquiries. When asked about the perception of being the “most difficult spokesperson,” Lin Jian said he doesn’t see it that way, viewing it more as a glorious mission with great responsibility. “We have sufficient confidence and strength, thanks to the support of our country and people.”
Shen Zhanli, spokesperson for the Ministry of Emergency Management, also shared her perspectives during the reception. She noted that although the overall safety situation in 2024 has remained stable, she doesn’t feel relaxed as a spokesperson. “With less than two weeks left in the year, the number of major accidents is expected to drop to single digits, which is a historical first. While this year shows positive progress in safety production, we carry a constant sense of responsibility.”
Shen Zhanli explained that the Ministry of Emergency Management has established its own mechanism for news releases, which includes regular and specialized press conferences. She emphasized the importance of timely information dissemination during emergencies, stating, “On one hand, we need to ensure the public’s right to know; on the other hand, it is our duty to release information swiftly. This enables the public to understand situations and collaborate with governmental response departments in addressing issues.”
Anticipating the New Year
With the arrival of the New Year, the reception was predominantly decorated in red, intensifying the festive atmosphere.
When asked about her wishes for 2025, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, offered a simple yet beautiful response: “I hope for more exchanges across the Taiwan Strait, and that young people from both sides can have brighter prospects and better lives.”
Zhu Fenglian observed that in recent years, the preferences of young people from both sides have increasingly aligned, with shared interests in subjects like the third driving test, snail noodles, and films such as “Once Upon a Time in China” and “Huanhua,” among others. “They watch the same shows and discover many commonalities. Many young people from Taiwan find that their experiences in the mainland differ from what they had anticipated, and they can find much of what they want to see and learn here, which is excellent. Thus, the press conferences are increasingly focusing on the concerns and needs of young people and will provide more resources for them.”
Pei Xiaofei expressed her New Year wish to see the goal of Beautiful China achieved as soon as possible. Wu Qian stated that the Ministry of National Defense would implement more measures in the coming year, particularly in international communication.
Similarly, Lin Jian’s New Year wish was straightforward and relatable: “From a personal perspective, I hope to have more opportunities for engagement with domestic and foreign journalists in the coming year. A larger wish is for our country to become stronger, our diplomatic efforts to flourish, and for us to gain more friends around the world.”
