China to stick to road of peaceful development: FM

BEIJING—Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said here Saturday that China will remain on the road of peaceful development and adhere to the mutually beneficial strategy in the coming year.
Yang made the remarks at a new year reception hosted by the Foreign Ministry in the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, at which State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and nearly 400 foreign diplomats and Chinese officials were present. The year 2007 has been special for Chinese people, said Yang. The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held, which blueprinted the socialist construction with Chinese characteristics.
Recalling the past year, Yang said China adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace and scored remarkable achievements. China further expanded and deepened the cooperation with foreign countries on the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence, and took an active part in multilateral diplomacy and international efforts addressing global issues, he said. China will work with people from all the other countries to build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity in2008, Yang added.
Mhd Kheir Al-Wadi, Syrian Ambassador to China, said on behalf of the diplomatic corps in Beijing that China has played a constructive role in safeguarding world peace, security, stability and justice, and promoting the common development. He expressed congratulations on China’s achievements in national building-up and wished the great success of the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan reiterated China’s commitment to its peaceful development and harmonious world strategies at an international seminar in Beijing on Thursday.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the seminar, Tang cited Chinese President Hu Jintao’s pledge at the the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in mid October that China would follow the path of peaceful development and promote the building of a harmonious world of durable peace and common prosperity.
Tang said following the path of peaceful development means China is committed to building socialism with distinctive Chinese features, and it would uphold a peaceful international environment to develop itself and contribute more to world peace and common development through its own development.
It means China will actively participate in economic globalization and regional cooperation while mainly relying on itself to achieve all-round, coordinated and sustainable development through reform and innovation. China will open itself wider to the outside world and promote cooperation of mutual benefit with all other countries, he said. It means China will never seek hegemony or external expansion and will remain a staunch force for world peace and common development.—Xinhua