China expounded its "peaceful development road" concept in a white paper issued on Thursday in Beijing, pledging that "China is now taking the road of peaceful development, and will continue to do so when it gets stronger in the future."

It is "a serious choice and solemn promise made by the Chinese government and the Chinese people," said the document, issued by the Information Office of the State Council, China's cabinet.

Yue Xiaoyong, a professor with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said the white paper constitutes a summary of China's international strategy and national development strategy. It will play an important guiding role in China's development for a long time.

"To take the road of peaceful development is to unify domestic development with opening to the outside world, linking the development of China with that of the rest of the world, and combining the fundamental interests of the Chinese people with the common interests of all peoples throughout the world," said the document, titled "China's Peaceful Development Road."

The document said China has taken the road of peaceful development because it is an inevitable choice based on its national conditions, China's historical and cultural tradition and the present world development trend.

Yue said the release of the white paper shows China has reached a wide and serious consensus on pursuing peaceful development.

The white paper reflects China's further understanding of development, namely that domestic affairs should be considered in relation to international factors and vice versa, he said.

"It will help the international community to gain a better understanding of China and dispel the worries and misunderstanding of some people," said Yue. "It will also help retort to remarks about an emerging 'China threat'."

The document said China's development requires a peaceful international environment.

"For years, the Chinese government and people have made unremitting efforts to create a peaceful international environment," the white paper said.

It said China seeks a peaceful international environment so that it can concentrate on its own construction and development.

Meanwhile, China's development also contributes to world peace and development, the document said.

As a result of China's fast development, China is able to feed nearly 22 percent of the world's population on less than 10 percent of the world's arable land. In addition, China has lifted 220 million people out of poverty.

Statistics released by the World Bank show that China's economic growth contributed on average 13 percent to world economic growth from 2000 to 2004.

The document said the Chinese nation has always been peace-loving.

"Chinese culture is inherently pacific. The spirit of the Chinese people has always featured their longing for peace and pursuit of harmony," said the document.

It said China has been working with all other countries to attain the lofty goal of "building a harmonious world."

According to the white paper, China has joined more than 130 inter-governmental international organizations and is committed to 267 international multilateral treaties.

China also actively participates in international cooperation in areas including anti-terrorism, arms control, non-proliferation and peacekeeping.

China settles border issues with other countries peacefully and actively helps the growth of other developing countries, the white paper said.

"Peace, opening-up, cooperation, harmony and mutual benefits are our policies, our idea, our principles and our pursuits," said the document.

It said China will not shift its own problems and contradictions onto other countries, and much less will it plunder other countries to further its own development.

The white paper called China's peaceful development road a brand new road for mankind in pursuit of civilization and progress.

"The white paper shows to the world that China's development is not a threat to the world, but a huge opportunity instead," said Yue.

Source: Xinhua