Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) reaches out his hands for a group photo after signing the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the East Asia Summit at the first East Asia Summit (EAS) in Kuala Lumpur, Dec. 14, 2005.

China has succeeded in embarking upon a development path suited to its national conditions, namely, a Chinese path to socialist modernization, a path to peaceful development, and China will stick to the path, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Kuala Lumpur Wednesday.

In his speech to the first East Asia Summit -- "Be Open and Inclusive, and Achieve Mutual Benefit and Common Progress," Wen said that China has succeeded in embarking upon a Chinese path to socialist modernization after 27 years of reform and opening-up program, which is a path to peaceful development.

What a path to peaceful development means is that China will seize the favorable opportunities presented by a peaceful world to develop itself. At the same time, it will strive to maintain and promote world peace through its own development, Wen said.

It means that China will, by relying mainly on its own strength, carrying out reform and making innovation, and by taking a scientific approach to development as the guidance, achieve all-round, coordinated and sustainable development and build a harmonious society, he said.

It means that China will remain open, actively participate in economic globalization and engage in cooperation with the rest of the world on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, said the Chinese premier.

It means that China's interests will be closely linked with that of other countries and China's development and prosperity will converge with regional and global development and prosperity, Wen added.

This path to peaceful development, which is in keeping with the global trend of development, serves the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and people of the world, Wen said.

"We will stick to this path," said the Chinese premier.

Observing the principle of "building friendly relations and partnership with neighbors" and of "fostering an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborly environment," China is committed to developing friendly relations and cooperation with other countries in this region, Wen said.

China will continue to adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and resolve disputes with other countries in a peaceful way through dialogue and consultation, and will continue to take an active part in regional cooperation and endeavor to promote regional economic integration, Wen said.

China will adhere to a new security concept of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination, work to defuse regional hotspots, enhance multilateral security cooperation and maintain regional peace and stability, he said.

China will respect, as always, the diverse nature of cultures, religions and values in East Asia and promote both dialogue on an equal footing among civilizations and cultures and exchanges among them, he said.

Development has proven and will continue to prove that China is a responsible country and a staunch force for world peace and common development, Wen said.

He added that no matter what may happen in the international arena, China will remain a trustworthy and reliable cooperation partner of the people in this region.

China will never seek domination in East Asia. China will not develop itself at the expense of others, and its development will not threaten any other country, said the Chinese premier.

A stable, open and prosperous China will surely make greater contribution to maintaining regional and world peace and promoting common development of the mankind, Wen said.

The East Asia Summit, held for the first time, gathers leaders from the 10 ASEAN countries -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- and those from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Source: Xinhua