Xinhua’s Top 10 International News Stories in 2024
President Xi Jinping and foreign leaders at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, Sept. 5, 2024. Photo: Xinhua
January 2, 2025 Hour: 2:50 pm
The indifference of Western powers to the genocide in Gaza is one of the past year’s most dramatic events.
The year 2024 was marked by events that transformed the political and economic relationships across the globe. The Chinese news agency Xinhua was on the ground, covering these moments of change. Below are the top 10 news events of 2024, as selected by Xinhua:
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1. Chinese Diplomacy Opens a New Chapter
In 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended three major diplomatic events in China: the 70th Anniversary Commemorative Conference of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, and the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Xi also undertook four significant overseas visits, covering Europe, Central Asia, and Latin America. He participated in a series of multilateral summits, engaged in deep strategic communication with other nations’ leaders, and made personal efforts to strengthen ties with people worldwide.
China’s great power diplomacy showcased its responsibility during unprecedented global changes, guiding trends toward peace, development, and mutually beneficial cooperation.
2. Chang’e-6 Mission Collects the First Samples from the Moon’s Far Side
Between May 3 and June 25, the Chang’e-6 lunar probe completed a 53-day space mission, returning with the world’s first samples from the Moon’s far side. On December 17, the Shenzhou-19 crew completed a record-setting nine-hour extravehicular activity.
Other nations also achieved significant space milestones last year: SpaceX’s Starship trial achieved a remarkable booster capture using a “chopstick-like” system, and Japan’s H3 and Europe’s Ariane 6 rockets successfully conducted inaugural launches.
3. Political Changes Sweep European Countries
In June, right-wing and far-right parties gained more seats in European Parliament elections, fueled by public dissatisfaction with economic, social welfare, and immigration issues.
Under both internal and external pressures, Europe’s political landscape shifted: France replaced three prime ministers in one year; the UK’s Conservative Party suffered a crushing defeat in parliamentary elections, enabling the Labour Party to return to power after 14 years; and in Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a parliamentary confidence vote following the collapse of his coalition government.
4. U.S. FED Interest Rate Cuts Signal a New Easing Cycle
On September 18, the U.S. Federal Reserve announced a major 50-basis-point interest rate cut, marking the start of a new easing cycle, which continued with 25-basis-point reductions in November and December. In response, central banks worldwide, particularly the European Central Bank, adjusted their monetary policies.
The FED’s shift toward a more flexible monetary policy is expected to provide greater liquidity to global markets, temporarily easing inflation and debt payment pressures in some countries, while also introducing new uncertainties for the global economy.
5. Artificial Intelligence Drives Innovation Across Various Fields
On October 8-9, the 2024 Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry were awarded for breakthroughs in machine learning and a protein structure prediction model, respectively.
Over the past year, artificial intelligence became a key tool for scientific innovation. The AI video generation model Sora sparked a new wave of text-to-video creation, AI-driven devices revitalized consumer electronics, and tech giants doubled down on investments in AI chips.
China’s efforts to foster international cooperation in AI capacity-building, supported by a United Nations General Assembly resolution, significantly influenced global AI development and governance.
6. Enhanced BRICS Cooperation Accelerates the Rise of the Global South
The 16th BRICS Summit, held in Russia from October 22 to 24, launched greater cooperation within the group. The Global South, with China as a key player, gained momentum.
President Xi Jinping proposed open and inclusive Global South cooperation, announced eight measures to support it, introduced “five cooperation frameworks” with Arab nations, proposed 10 partnership actions for modernization with Africa, and outlined eight global development actions. These efforts highlighted China’s commitment to unity and self-reliance among Global South countries.
7. Prolonged Ukraine Crisis Deepens Russia-West Tensions
On November 19, Ukraine fired U.S.-made missiles into Russian territory for the first time. That same day, Russia revised its nuclear deterrence policy, issuing a stark warning to the West.
Over the year, Ukrainian forces conducted incursions into Russia, while Russian forces advanced in eastern Ukraine. Long-range weapons and cluster bombs were deployed, and the U.S. and other Western nations continued providing military aid to Ukraine. NATO conducted its largest military exercise since the Cold War and approved Sweden’s membership, escalating tensions with Russia.
8. UNESCO Recognition of the Spring Festival Highlights China’s Cultural Appeal
On December 4, “The Spring Festival and Chinese People’s Social Practices in Celebrating the Traditional New Year” was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Over the past year, both the Spring Festival and Beijing’s Central Axis gained UNESCO recognition. China’s proposal for an International Dialogue Between Civilizations Day garnered global support, while “Travel to China” campaigns flourished under new visa-free policies. Additionally, the Chinese video game Black Myth: Wukong captivated gamers worldwide, underscoring China’s growing cultural influence.
9. Opposition Forces in Syria Overthrow Al-Assad
On December 8, Syrian rebel groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a swift offensive to capture Damascus, marking the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government and a turning point in Syria’s 13-year civil war.
Israel subsequently occupied Syrian-controlled areas of the Golan Heights and conducted large-scale airstrikes on military targets. These drastic shifts in Syria’s political landscape intensified geopolitical rivalries among major regional and global powers, heightening uncertainties in the Middle East.
10. Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Sparks Regional Escalations
By December 16, Israel’s military offensive in Gaza had killed over 45,000 Palestinians and injured over 100,000 people. The 14-month-long campaign devastated Gaza, leaving around two million residents grappling with relentless bombings, a severe blockade, and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Meanwhile, tensions escalated between Israel and Lebanon, Israel and Iran, and in the Red Sea region. The U.S., while supplying arms to Israel, blocked United Nations Security Council resolutions calling for a Gaza ceasefire, drawing widespread condemnation from the international community.
teleSUR/ JF Source: Xinhua
