Video: China sets out guidelines for foreign affairs

Chinese President Hu Jintao addresses the central foreign affairs meeting held on Aug. 21-23, 2006 in Beijing, capital of China.(Xinhua Photo)

    BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China said it will adhere to a "mutual benefits and win-win" strategy in its exchanges with the rest of the world.

    According to the central meeting on foreign affairs work held in Beijing on Monday through Wednesday, China will transform the growth mode of foreign trade, expand the ratio of service trade, take concrete steps to protect intellectual property rights, accelerate construction of free trade zones with other countries and regions, and coordinate the development of imports and exports.

    Senior Chinese leaders, including Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Zeng Qinghong, Huang Ju, Wu Guanzheng, Li Changchun and Luo Gan attended the meeting.

    General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Hu Jintao, who is also Chinese President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, proposed ways of strengthening and improving foreign affairs work.

    Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, spelled out arrangements for foreign affairs work now and in the years to come.

    The meeting pointed out that China urgently needs to improve the quality of foreign affairs work because China now has "unprecedentedly close links" with the international community in economic, political, cultural and security fields and the links between domestic and foreign affairs are more pronounced.

    It stressed foreign affairs work should center around the primary task of development, hold high the banner of "peace, development and cooperation," adhere to an independent foreign policy of peace, "unswervingly" pursue the peaceful development road and be multidimensional.

    It asked foreign affairs officials to create a sound international environment and favorable external conditions for China's reform, opening-up and modernization and contribute to pushing forward the construction of a harmonious world of abiding peace and common prosperity. Enditem