China will never threaten any country, pursue expansion or seek hegemony, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing Monday when addressing a conference commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

He said that China will always put development on the top of its government's agenda. A successful running of China is in itself a major contribution to peace and development of humanity.

He added that China will continue to pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, and dedicate itself to developing friendly relations and cooperation with all countries.

China will firmly safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, tolerating no one to interfere in its internal affairs. At the same time, the country will respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of others, he noted.

China will open still wider to the outside world on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, while engaging in economic and technical cooperation with other countries with greater scope and depth, he said.

China will continue to improve and develop its relations with the developed countries, expand the areas of common interests and properly handle the differences with them, he noted.

Wen said that China will build good-neighborly relationships and partnerships and work still harder in implementing the policy of creating an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood.

China will continue to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation with the vast number of developing countries, and actively explore ways for effective South-South cooperation under the new circumstances, he said.

China will vigorously participate in multilateral diplomacy and play a constructive part at the United Nations and other international and regional organizations, he said.

The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.

(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2004)