TOWARD A SAFER WORLD: Chinese President Hu Jintao attends the UN Security Council Summit on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Nuclear Disarmament on September 24 in New York, along with State Councilor Dai Bingguo (second row right) and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (second row left) JU PENG

Accelerating economic strength and political influence have both made China the center of an intense international focus.

The world community, meanwhile, is curious about China's view on the future of world affairs. During the UN meetings in late September, Chinese President Hu Jintao addressed this by stating the country's stances on international development, peace and security.

At the conclusion of Hu's UN tour, China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi noted the president's speeches, including issues like the financial crisis, climate change and nuclear non-proliferation, have "significant bearing" on the international community.

They also have "direct bearing" on China's long-term strategic and developmental interests, he added.

Building world harmony

In a keynote speech at the general debate of the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly on September 23, Hu called for common development worldwide.

The UN General Assembly holds a regular session every September to December. As the beginning of every year's session, the general debate offers equal opportunities for UN members to discuss international issues, while presenting their views.

This year's theme was Effective Responses to Global Crises: Strengthening Multilateralism and Dialogue Among Civilizations for International Peace, Security and Development. Leaders contributed by offering their opinions on how to emerge from the economic recession while realizing a global revival.

The deepening economic globalization has linked all countries closely together, Hu said.

In the dawn of the 21st century, he added, the world is undergoing major development, changes and adjustments, and all this will ultimately lead toward peace, development and cooperation.

Nonetheless, he added, instability and uncertainties in the international landscape loom large, posing severe challenges to world peace and development. Climate change, food security, energy efficiency and public health are among the many global challenges faced by all.

Thus the international community, Hu said, has a responsibility "to build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity and contribute to the noble cause of peace and development of mankind."

Hu noted a few major points about such a new world. These include viewing security in a broader perspective to safeguard world peace and stability, taking a more holistic approach to development to promote common prosperity and pursuing cooperation with a more open mind.

"We should be more tolerant to one another and live together in harmony," he added. "We should acknowledge differences in cultural traditions, social systems and values and respect the rights of all countries to independently choose their development paths."

These points illustrated China's vision of "a harmonious world" in detail, said Wang Zaibang, Vice President of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. They indicated that the country is looking at the world in light of its future development, he added.

Being the largest developing country in the world, China's destiny is increasingly linked with that of the entire world, Hu said. He promised the country would stick to its path of peaceful development, one that leads to mutual benefits and win-win results.

Hu noted the fact that China has lived up to its role as a world citizen by extending assistance to more than 120 countries.

Beijing, he added, also has written off outstanding debts against 49 less developed debtor nations. At the same time, Hu noted, China offers zero-tariff rates on goods from more than 40 least developed countries.