China will stick to peace: Xi
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday urged countries not to throw any region into chaos for selfish gains at Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) , where he pledged that China will make contributions toward peace and common development in Asia and the world.
As the world's largest developing country, China will stick to peaceful development and vigorously promote prosperity in both Asia and the world, Xi said when delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the BFA Annual Conference 2013 held in Hainan Province.
In response to the changing situation, all nations should abandon outdated concepts and old conventions that deter development and try to spur vitality, said the president, noting that Asia should be the "wave rider" of the era and incorporate its self-innovation into the world's development.
BFA Secretary General Zhou Wenzhong said the financial crisis and sweeping European debt crisis have reflected the drawbacks of the development models of developed countries and also the potential risks of emerging economies' development models, which made innovation extremely important, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Wang Yizhou, deputy dean of the School of International relations at Peking University, said apart from courage and determination for innovation, all parties should also show sincerity in cooperation by avoiding trade protectionism.
In his speech, Xi also stressed the importance of maintaining the peace, which he dubbed "air and sunshine."
"Countries, whether big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, should all contribute their share to maintaining and enhancing peace," Xi said, adding that "no one should be allowed to throw a region into chaos for selfish gains."
Xi also said China will continue to properly handle differences and frictions with other relevant nations.
While upholding its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, China will maintain good relations with its neighbors, as well as maintain overall peace and stability in the region, he said.
Yang Bojiang, a researcher of Japanese studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Xi's remarks not only demonstrated the continuity of China's diplomatic policy, but also showed the new central leadership's "new thinking" on foreign policy.
"Although China advocates neighbors wishing each other well just as loved ones do to each other, some countries are not showing clear political and strategic road maps, regardless of the interests of other countries, and they are bringing uncertainties to regional peace and stability," Yang said.
Jia Qingguo, a professor of international relations at Peking University, told the Global Times that in the face of mounting conflicts involving China or impacting regional stability, China, as a big power, should embark from a general situation and seek to maintain the stability and prosperity of Asia.
China will spare no efforts to seek prosperity in Asia and the world, Xi said, adding that China's development can also benefit its neighbors.
The president said China will import goods worth around $10 trillion in the next five years and outbound investment could surpass $500 billion.
China imported $1.8 trillion worth of goods and services in 2012, up 4.3 percent from a year ago.
Xi noted in the speech that development is still pivotal to all countries in Asia, and further development is the key to resolving the problems facing Asian countries, but challenges still remain.
"It is important that we shift the growth model, adjust the economic structure, make development more cost-effective and make life better for our people," he said.
This year marks the 13th annual conference after the BFA was inaugurated in 2001.
"Boao Forum is a very important event in Asia now. Its scale, scope and participation have all increased," Indian Corporate Affairs Minister Sachin Pilot told the Global Times at the forum.
Pilot said that despite the slowing global economy, China and India will continue to see robust growth in the next few years. "I think the two countries (China and India) will be avenues for global economic recovery," said Pilot, adding that Xi's speech was well-received, not only by the Indian delegation, but by all the participants.
Xinhua and Xu Sichang contributed to this story