BEIJING, Oct 16 — China remains firm in pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace and has always affirmed its position and policy on issues based on their own merits, said its President Xi Jinping.
Xi said China respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and will stay true to the principle of equality of all countries big or small, strong or weak, and rich or poor.
“China respects the development paths and social systems independently chosen by all the world’s peoples,” he said at the opening session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) today.
Speaking for almost two hours, Xi said China stands firmly against all forms of hegemonism and power politics, the Cold War mentality, interference in other countries’ internal affairs and double standards.
“China pursues a defensive national defense policy, and its development strengthens the world’s forces for peace. No matter what stage of expansionism,” he said.
China also called upon all countries to hold dear to humanity’s shared values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom and to promote mutual understanding with other peoples.
“Let us allow cultural exchanges to transcend estrangement, mutual learning to transcend clashes, and coexistence to transcend feelings of superiority.
“Although this is an era fraught with challenges, it is also an era brimming with the hope. The Chinese people are ready to work hand in hand with people across the world to create an even brighter future for humanity.
Meanwhile, he said China will also promote the high-quality development of the Belt and Road (BRI) initiative which has been welcomed by international community as a public good and a cooperation platform.
The country has become a major trading partner for more than 140 countries and regions, where it leads the world in total volume of trade in goods.
“China it is a major destination for global investment and a leading country in outbound investment. Through these efforts, we have advanced a broader agenda of opening up across more areas and in greater depth,” he said.
In the past decade, China’s GDP has grown from 54 trillion yuan to 114 trillion yuan to account for 18.5 percent of the world economy, up 7.2 percentage points.
Xi said China has remained the world’s second largest economy, and its per capita GDP has risen from 39,800 yuan to 81,000 yuan.
“It ranks first in the world in terms of grain output, and it has ensured food and energy security for its more than 1.4 billion people,” he said.
The 20th National CPC Congress will end on Oct 22. Around 2,300 delegates from every province in China have gathered at the Great Hall of the People in the capital Beijing from Sunday for the mostly closed-door conclave.
