The Political Bureau of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) conducted its third study session on January 28 to address the topic of sticking to the path of peaceful development. General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping, who chaired the session, said peaceful development is a strategic choice the CPC has made based on the trend of the times and China’s fundamental interests. “We should take the Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development as guidance, strengthen strategic thinking and become more composed strategically,” he said.

China will adhere to an open, cooperative and win-win development model with due consideration for both domestic and international situations, he said. It will pursue its development by seeking a peaceful international environment while safeguarding and promoting world peace through its development. It will also continue to enhance its comprehensive national strength, ensure the public benefits from peaceful development and consolidate a material and social basis for furthering development, Xi said.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee Wang Jiarui and Commerce Minister Chen Deming shared their opinions based on personal work experiences.

Members of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau listened to their remarks and held discussions on related issues.

While presiding over the session, Xi said the Chinese are a peace-loving nation. Eliminating war and realizing peace have been their most pressing and profound wishes since China entered the modern era. Following the road of peaceful development is the continuation and development of the fine cultural traditions of the Chinese nation as well as an inevitable conclusion Chinese people have drawn from their miserable experiences in the modern age, he added. With an indelible memory about the miseries of war, the Chinese share an eager pursuit of peace and set great store by peaceful and stable lives. They fear turmoil, seek stability and long for world peace, Xi said.

The general secretary pointed out China’s peaceful development path is hard won. It has gradually taken shape based on the CPC’s arduous explorations and unremitting efforts since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, especially the beginning of the reform and opening-up program in 1978. “Our Party has always held high the banner of peace without wavering,” he said. “In our long-term practice, we have proposed and adhered to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, established and upheld an independent foreign policy of peace, made a solemn commitment to the world that China will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion and stressed that China has always been a staunch force safeguarding world peace. We must stick to these principles steadfastly and shall never waver.”

Xi said the 18th CPC National Congress last November put forward the goals of “completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects when the CPC celebrates its centenary in 2021 and turning China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious when the People’s Republic of China marks its centennial in 2049.” China has also set the goal of realizing the “Chinese dream” of national renewal. The country needs a peaceful international environment to turn these goals into reality, Xi said. “Without peace, China and the world cannot develop smoothly; and without development, China and the world cannot enjoy enduring peace,” he said. “We must seize opportunities, concentrate on handling our own affairs well, make the country stronger and more prosperous, deliver greater affluence to the people and better follow the path of peaceful development by relying on our growing strength.”

Xi noted the world tide is going forward with great might; those who go with the tide will proper, and those who go against it will perish. A review of world history shows all foreign aggression and expansion by force eventually ended in failure, which is a historical rule, he said, adding that while world prosperity and stability present opportunities to China, China’s development is an opportunity for the world. “Whether the path of peaceful development works largely depends on whether we can turn opportunities in the world into China’s opportunities, translate China’s opportunities to opportunities for the world and forge ahead as we engage in positive interaction with the world for win-win results,” Xi said. China should unswervingly pursue its own path in accordance with its realities, he said. At the same time, it should have a global vision with which to form a better link between domestic development and opening up, between China’s development and the development of the world and between Chinese people’s interests and the shared interests of people around the world. It should continue to expand mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries, participate in international affairs with a more positive stance, jointly address global challenges and try to make contributions to global development, he said.

“We will stick to the road of peaceful development, but will never give up our legitimate rights and will never sacrifice our national core interests,” Xi said. “No country should presume that we will engage in trade involving our core interests or that we will swallow the ‘bitter fruit’ of harming our sovereignty, security or development interests.” China is following a road of peaceful development and other countries should do the same, he added. He also said that only when all countries pursue a path of peaceful development can they jointly develop and enjoy peaceful coexistence.

“We should spread widely and deeply our country’s strategic thinking of sticking to the road of peaceful development and guide the international community to properly understand and approach China’s development,” Xi said. “China will never pursue development at the cost of sacrificing other countries’ interests. We will never benefit ourselves at others’ expense or do harm to any neighbor. China will unswervingly pursue peaceful development, push forward joint development, maintain the multilateral trade system and participate in global economic governance.”