Hu: China will contribute to global peace (AP) Updated: 2005-11-18 06:28
Chinese President Hu Jintao took center stage at a Pacific Rim forum
Thursday, offering assurances there is nothing to fear from his fast-developing
country and emphasizing that China has great potential to contribute to world
peace.
"Facts have proved that China's development will not stand in the way of
anyone, nor will it pose any threat to anyone," Hu said in a speech to a
gathering of chief executives. "Instead, it will only do good to peace,
stability and prosperity in the world."
China's President
Hu Jintao delivers a speech during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) CEO summit in Pusan, South Korea November 17, 2005.
[Reuters] | Hu came to Busan for the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation forum, where he, President Bush and 19 other leaders plan to address
threats like terrorism, stalled global trade talks and the potential for a flu
pandemic that experts say could kill millions of people.
The focus of APEC's weeklong meetings shifted to the business summit, an
annual event on the sidelines of the leaders' gathering, as government delegates
took a break from official meetings a day after trade and foreign ministers
signed off on a statement to be handed to leaders.
Hu said China has emerged a major engine of world growth, touting the strides
it has made in recent years. He read off a slew of statistics, such as his
country's 9.4 percent economic growth last year and the doubling of its foreign
trade from just three years ago.
Along with China's astonishing economic growth —
averaging about 9 percent over the past decade — have come concerns that major
increases in military spending mean the world's most populous country may be
seeking a role as the strongest power in the Asia-Pacific region.
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