Chinese President Hu Jintao said in a New Year's Eve address on Friday China would adhere to the path of peaceful development and would always seek to cooperate when facing global problems. Hu's annual address broadcast by state television appeared to be targeted at rising concern around the world over China's growing political and military clout which has been fuelled by 30 years of fast-paced economic growth.
"I would like to reiterate, China will continue to hold high the standard of peace, development and co-operation," Hu said. "We will forever walk the road of peaceful development and forever follow a win-win strategy of mutual development."
In the coming year, China will adopt a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy aimed at relatively fast and healthy economic growth and the improvement of the livelihoods of its people, he said. "The world economic recovery is still difficult and full of ups and downs. Climate change, energy and resource security, food security, public sanitation security are all prominent problems facing the world," Hu said.