KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- China has embarked on the path of peaceful development, which is dictated by its need for development, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told East Asian leaders Monday.

    Wen made the statement in his speech entitled "China's Peaceful Development: An Opportunity for East Asia" at the East Asia Summit Leaders Dialogue.

    He said China's "development is uneven, as many areas remain backward. For China to be fully developed, it will take the unremitting efforts of several generations, or even a dozen generations of the Chinese people."

    Therefore, China "needs a durable and peaceful international environment that enables it to concentrate on economic development," he pointed out.

    He said albeit China will mainly rely on its own strength, vast domestic market and abundant workforce in economic development, it also needs "extensive international cooperation," through which China will continue to seek peace and development.

    Given the importance of promoting economic development, Wen said, the business community "plays a crucial role," and " serves as a bridge that forges strong economic and trade ties between China and other East Asian countries."

    Wen arrived here Sunday to attend East Asian summits and pay an official visit to Malaysia, the last leg of Wen's five-nation Euro-Asia tour, which has taken him to France, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Portugal. Enditem