"The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family," Mr Xi said in a speech televised on China's state broadcaster CCTV. “No one can sever our family bonds, and no one can stop the historical trend of national reunification.”

The Chinese leader projected confidence amid Beijing’s economic struggles and ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump, set to take a hard line on China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized China’s commitment to global governance reform and assured the people about the economy, saying that the country has proactively responded to the impacts of the changing environment at home and abroad.