President Hu Jintao said on Thursday that China would adhere to its own social system and development path and never bow to foreign pressure.

Hu made the remarks while addressing a grand gathering?in Beijing?to mark the 30th anniversary of the reform and opening-up drive, which turned the once poverty-stricken country into one of the world's largest economies.

Hu said the future and fate of China as well as the rest of the world have become increasingly interdependent, and the country should maintain its independence while courageously participating in globalization.

For such a populous developing socialist country as China, independence and self-reliance should form the basis of development, which means the country must adhere to the social system and development path chosen by its own people, he said.

In international affairs, the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and the common interests of the world should be the starting points for the country, and its stance and policies would be based on the merits and demerits of the actual cases, Hu said.

He added that China would address its affairs through sober-minded observation, calmly and in the spirit of mutual respect and a search for common ground while shelving differences. It would never succumb to external pressure, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2008)