Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday called on leaders of APEC business communities to join efforts to build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.

 

"China will work with other countries for harmonious coexistence in the political field, common development in the economic field, mutual enriching in the cultural field and mutual trust and coordination in the security field," Hu told a CEO summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Hanoi.

 

"By doing so, we will continue to contribute to the noble cause of peace and development of mankind," he said in an address.

 

As a member of the international community and the Asia-Pacific community, China's continued development and increasing integration with the world in recent years has drawn keen interest of the international community, Hu said.

 

Meanwhile, China still faces major problems and challenges due to its big population, weak economic foundation and uneven development in different regions, the president said.

 

In efforts to solve the problems, China is pursuing a scientific outlook on development and will give high priority to the following four areas:

 

First, China will speed up economic restructuring and the transformation of pattern of economic growth. "We will endeavor to develop a circular economy, lower energy and resources consumption and build a resource-conserving and environment-friendly society and ensure sound balance between economic development, population, resources and environment."

 

Second, China will accelerate the building of new socialist rural villages. China "will advance comprehensive rural reforms and strengthen development of modern agriculture, enhance the scales of economy of the agricultural sector, and raise the overall agricultural productivity, improve efficiency of farming and ensure steady growth in farmers' income," Hu said.

 

Third, China will promote balanced regional development. "We will continue to develop China's western region, revitalize the old industrial bases in China's northeast and other regions, promote the rise of Central China and encourage China's eastern regions to take the lead in development."

 

Fourth, China will make continued efforts to build a harmonious society. China will vigorously develop social programs, promote social fairness and justice, build a culture of harmony, improve social management and fully release people's creativity, he said.

 

Furthermore, "We will expand employment, improve the social security system and adjust income distribution," Hu said.

 

The meeting, with the theme of "Toward One Community: Creating New Opportunities for Shared Development," is dedicated to solving problems that stand in the way of development in the Asia-Pacific and promoting balanced and sustainable development in the region.

 

Hu arrived in the central Vietnamese city of Danang on Wednesday on a state visit to the Southeast Asian nation. Vietnam is the first leg of Hu's four-nation tour, which will also take him to Laos, India and Pakistan.

 

In Hanoi, the Chinese president will also attend the 14th Economic Leaders' Meeting of APEC scheduled for Nov. 18-19.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2006)