China will remain on a path of peaceful development and take a more active posture in international affairs, said Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

At a group study session held on Monday with members of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, Xi said China will adhere to an "open, cooperative and win-win" development model with due consideration for both the domestic and international situations.

China will pursue its development by seeking a peaceful international environment while safeguarding and promoting world peace, he said.

Xi said the government will ensure that the public benefits from China's peaceful development, as well as work to consolidate a material and social basis for furthering its development.

Wartime atrocities in the past have made an indelible impression on the Chinese people, leading them to desire and cherish a peaceful and stable life, Xi said.

"Turbulence is what the Chinese people are afraid of, stability is what they are after and world peace is what they are looking forward to," Xi said.

China's road of peaceful development has been hard to come by, as it was established through the CPC's arduous exploration and unceasing practices since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Xi said.

China has put forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, established and carried out a peaceful and independent foreign policy, made a solemn commitment to never seek hegemony and expansion and emphasized that it will always remain a staunch force in safeguarding world peace, Xi said.

China will unswervingly adhere to these principles, policies and commitments, Xi said.

During the 18th CPC National Congress held in November 2012, the CPC set the goals of building a moderately prosperous society by 2021 and building a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and modernized socialist country by 2049.

The CPC also set a goal of realizing the "China Dream" of the great renewal of the Chinese nation.

"To realize these goals, we must have a peaceful international environment," Xi said, adding "without peace, China and the world at large cannot develop smoothly; without development, both China and the world as a whole cannot have enduring peace."

MUTUAL BENEFIT

"Global progress is like a tidal wave: ride with it and prosper, sail against it and you surely will perish," Xi said.

History shows that armed aggression and expansion are always doomed to failure, Xi said.

Global prosperity and stability represent an opportunity for China, while China's development represents an opportunity for the world, he said, adding that the success of a peaceful path of development will depend on the utilization of the opportunities that exist for both sides.

Through sound interaction between both sides, China will open up a path for advancement, he said, adding that China will unswervingly adhere to its own path.

Xi said China should establish global insight, integrate domestic development with the process of opening up, link China's development with global development, and combine the interests of the Chinese with those of other countries.

China should expand mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries, participate in international affairs in a more positive manner, jointly combat global challenges and strive to make contributions to global development, Xi said.

NOT WAIVING LEGITIMATE RIGHTS

"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," he 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," he added.

Xi said China is following a road of peaceful development and other countries should do the same. He also said only when all countries pursue a path of peaceful development can they jointly develop and enjoy peaceful coexistence.

"We should widely and deeply spread 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 country's interests. We will never benefit ourselves at others' expense or do harm to any neighbor," he said.

China will unswervingly pursue peaceful development, push forward joint development, maintain the multilateral trade system and participate in global economic governance, Xi said.

It was the third group study of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee.

The first group study was held on Nov. 17 when the leaders studied and exchanged opinions on the spirit of the 18th CPC National Congress. Xi called for efforts to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics.

On Dec. 31, they held the second group study on promoting China's reform, calling for "more political courage and wisdom to deepen the country's reform."