The Chinese Year of the Horse begins on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. President Xi Jinping has frequently used adages, idioms and metaphors about horses, reflecting his views on governance and philosophy.

On June 9, 2014, Xi addressed the opening ceremony of the 17th Congress of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the 12th Congress of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in Beijing. He stressed that scientific and technological innovation has no finish line.

Xi quoted Xun Zi, a renowned Chinese philosopher who lived more than 2,000 years ago: "If a gallant steed leaps only once, it can cover a distance of no more than 10 steps. If an inferior horse travels for 10 days, it can go a long way on perseverance."

Scientific and technological competition, Xi said, is like short track speed skating. When we speed up, others do too. Those who can skate faster and sustain a high speed longer will ultimately win. He called on scientists and engineers to shoulder their responsibilities, overtake competitors and identify the right direction, then remain committed to it. They should have the courage and confidence to break new ground, overcome difficulties and strive for excellence, and boldly pursue world-leading scientific and technological achievements.