China will follow the path of peaceful development and mutually beneficial strategy as it opens up further to the outside world, President Hu Jintao said Tuesday.

His remarks come just two days after the close of the Beijing Olympics, which showcased China's policy of friendship and harmony.

Addressing a luncheon hosted by the Republic of Korea's (ROK) business leaders on the last day of his visit to that country, Hu reiterated that China's development policy is based on peace, opening-up and cooperation.

China will work with the rest of the world to establish harmony, lasting peace and prosperity across the globe.

Trade cooperation has played a vital role in boosting bilateral ties between China and the ROK, he said. The trade volume between the two countries reached nearly $160 billion last year, a 32-fold increase since they established diplomatic relations 16 years ago.

Their two-way investment has seen an almost 90-fold increase to cross $41 billion.

China and the ROK have similar cultures and complementary economies, Hu said. Which means they enjoy natural and cultural advantages in developing trade and economic cooperation.

Earlier, Hu and his ROK counterpart Lee Myung-bak met with representatives of Chinese and ROK youths and attended a tree-planting program.

Hu held talks with ROK Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o, too.

Jin Canrong, deputy dean of Renimi University of China's School of International Studies, described Hu's remarks as a message of friendship for the international community.

"The Beijing Games showed China's strength to the world. Many foreigners were impressed by the show, so it's natural that the rest of the world would try to figure out how China would use that strength," Jin said.

"Hu has made it explicitly clear that China will never choose the path of confrontation or take a self-centered approach. Instead, it will embrace the world and take part in a rule-based global competition," Jin said.

Similar views were echoed in the ROK. "By hosting the Olympics, China has shown the world its strength and status ," read an editorial in Chosun Ilbo.

"The Hu-Lee meeting a day after the closing ceremony of the Beijing Games once again brings home the urgent need for wisdom and historic vision from our leaders," it said.

Hu left Seoul in the afternoon for Tajikistan, where he will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's summit. After that, he will fly to Turkmenistan on the last leg of his three-nation tour.

(China Daily August 27, 2008)