Xi Warns of Economic Struggles in New Year's Speech, Vows to Boost Growth and Reunify with Taiwan
• Xi acknowledges economic challenges in annual New Year's speech for first time since 2013 • Official manufacturing index shows contraction for 3rd straight month in Dec • Economy plagued by property downturn, high youth unemployment, weak prices • Beijing scrambling to boost growth and jobs with fiscal, monetary measures • Xi reiterates goal of "reunification" with Taiwan ahead of presidential election