China said it will adhere to a "mutual benefits and win-win" strategy in its exchanges with the rest of the world.

According to discussions at the Central Meeting on Foreign Affairs Work held in Beijing from Monday to 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.

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.

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

It was stressed that foreign affairs work should center on the primary task of development, hold high the banner of "peace, development and cooperation", adhere to an independent foreign policy of peace, "unswervingly" pursue peaceful development, and be multi-dimensional.

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

(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2006)