Spotlight: Key statements of world leaders that may chart course for 2016

As the world enters 2016, world leaders are sending greetings to their nations in anticipation of a better new year. The following are some of the key statements they made in their New Year speeches that may chart the course for 2016.

DEVELOPMENT

As part of the world is still reeling from the aftermath of the widespread financial crisis in 2008, many countries are giving priority to economic growth in the new year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said that his top concern in 2016 is to lift tens of millions of rural Chinese out of poverty, as the ruling Communist Party of China has promised to eliminate poverty within the country by 2020.

In the past few years, China along with other emerging economies have played a major role in boosting growth across the world, but as downward pressure mounts, how to keep the economy running smooth will be even more testing for world leaders.

Both Italian President Sergio Matterella and Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila lamented on the condition of their economies and called for innovation and reform to restore economic growth.

ANTI-TERRORISM

The year of 2015 saw new growth and expansion of global terrorism, most notably the Islamic State terrorist group, which is not only raising havoc in the Middle East, but also is creating innocent bloodshed outside the region.

France twice fell victims to such attacks, with the Charlie Hebdo magazine attacked in January and a serial attack taking place in Paris in November.

Within such a context French President Francois Hollande vowed in his New Year address that his country "has not finished with terrorism yet."

Hollande's voice is echoed across the world as Russian, Italian, Chinese, Cameroonian leaders, among others, all stressed the imperativeness to counter extremism and terrorism.

With the will to act growing stronger, the year of 2016 may see an unprecedented joint international effort to not only fight terrorism militarily, but also ideologically.

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

The long-awaited climate accord signed in Paris in December added a new momentum in international effort to curb global warming and protect the environment.

Analysts believe the signing of the treaty will not only reshape the global energy market, but will also have a far-reaching impact on other fields as well.

This added optimism was seen in the speech of Finnish PM Juha Sipila, who said the new treaty will stimulate the clean technology sector, which Finland sees as a growth opportunity.

IMMIGRANTS

Immigrants flooded the shores of Europe as well as global news headlines in 2015, with millions of refugees mainly displaced from war-torn Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya sought better life in Europe.

But as ever more newcomers arrive in Europe, many Europeans' welcoming attitude quickly turned to wariness, fearing that such a big population immigration will be to much to bear.

This is exactly the kind of sentiment German Chancellor Angela Merkel is trying to reverse in her New Year speech, calling on fellow Europeans, particularly fellow German citizens, to show unity, as "today's great task is an opportunity for tomorrow."

The year of 2016 is believed to be a decisive year for the Syrian crisis, which lies at the heart of the refugee crisis. If global powers can overcome differences and settle the crisis in a peaceful manner, the largest migration in modern history may finally come to an end. Endi