China is the largest developing country in the world. The 1.3 billion Chinese people, taking the road of peaceful development, undoubtedly play a critical and positive role in the lofty pursuit of the peace and development of mankind.

The Chinese government and people are well aware that China is still a developing country facing a lot of difficulties and problems on its road of development, and therefore it still has a long way to go before modernization is achieved. The road of peaceful development accords with the fundamental interests of the Chinese people; it also conforms to the objective requirements of social development and progress of mankind. China is now taking the road of peaceful development, and will continue to do so when it gets stronger in the future. The resolve of the Chinese government and the Chinese people to stick to the road of peaceful development is unshakable.

The Chinese government and people also see clearly that peace and development, the two overriding issues facing the world, have not yet been fundamentally achieved. Local wars and conflicts arising from various causes keep erupting. Problems and conflicts in some regions remain complicated and thorny. Traditional and non-traditional factors threatening security are intertwined. The wealth gap between North and South continues to widen. People in some countries are still being denied the basic right to subsistence, and even survival. All this has made the road leading to a harmonious world characterized by sustained peace and common prosperity a bumpy and challenging one, and reaching the goal demands long and unremitting efforts by the people throughout the world.

The 21st century has opened up bright prospects, and human society is developing at an unprecedented rate. China has identified its goal for the first 20 years of this century. That is, to build a moderately well-off society in an all-round way that benefits over one billion people, further develop China's economy, improve democracy, advance science and education, enrich culture, foster greater social harmony and upgrade the quality of life of the Chinese people. China is certain to make more contributions to the lofty cause of peace and development of mankind.