On January 15, 2026, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng delivered a keynote speech at the China General Chamber of Commerce – USA (CGCC) 2026 Lunar New Year of the Horse Gala in New York.

Ambassador Xie said that we are just 15 days into the year 2026, but the world has already seen black swans and gray rhinos one after another. Instability and uncertainty are raging all around. Where will the world be heading? Humanity is facing a grave choice: peace or war, openness or isolation, cooperation or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum.

Ambassador Xie noted that Chairman Mao Zedong once wrote in a poem, “Let the wind blow and waves beat/ Better far than idly strolling in a courtyard.” Underlying it is the confidence and composure to keep going when the going gets tough, and also the vision and courage to break new ground in a fast-changing landscape. As a Chinese adage reads, “Victory is ensured when people pool their strength; success is secured when people put their heads together.” Noting that the Year of the Horse is just around the corner, and the horse symbolizes entrepreneurship and accomplishment in Chinese culture, Ambassador Xie called on all participants to face up to the challenges ahead and seize the opportunities with the vigor and resolve of the horse, and wished everyone a Year of the Horse filled with prosperity and success.