Jiang, addressing delegates of the International Forum on China and the World in the 21st Century on Monday, said international tensions are easing as economic globalization takes hold.

China, for its part, upholds the independent foreign policy of peace and carries out friendly exchanges with all countries on the basis of its Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the United Nations Charter as well as universally recognized tenets governing international relations, he added.

Jiang asserted that respect should be given to the diversity of civilizations that exist and to the history, culture, social systems and development models of different countries.

He spoke highly of the contributions made by some of the delegates to help along friendly relations between China and their countries.

Overseas delegates included former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, former Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu, former Australian Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, former EU Chairman Jacques Santer, Russian Duma Vice-Chair Vladimir Lukin, former UN Secretary-General Boutros-Boutros Ghali, former British Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine and former US National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski.

Jiang told Kohl in a meeting that hegemonism, unilateralism and a South-North discrepancies still exist and that the gap between the rich and poor is widening. The Chinese president bemoaned the fact that regional conflicts continue to arise.

Vice-Premier Qian Qichen also attended yesterday's opening ceremony, insisting that China will continue to promote modernization, reunification and work towards world peace.

"One country, two systems" is the only good model for the reunification, he asserted. Within the framework of this model, even more flexible policies than those of Hong Kong and Macao may be applied to Taiwan, Qian added.

The forum, which runs through tomorrow, is sponsored by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs. It aims to make the world better know about China and help enhance mutual understanding, expand consensus, foster friendships and promote co-operation.

China has experienced great development since the founding of New China, especially after its adoption of reform and opening-up policies more than 20 years ago.

"China's successful bid for the Olympics in 2008 and its upcoming World Trade Organization membership indicate China is integrating into the world in a more open approach, and its co-operative relations with other nations will enter a new stage," institute president Mei Zhaorong said.

( chinadaily.com.cn 09/11/2001)