Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Wednesday that China is ready to make joint efforts with other countries for world peace and will develop ties with them on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

"The world needs peace, for only with peace can there be development," Wen said at the annual high-level debate of the United Nations General Assembly.

"China earnestly hopes to have a peaceful international environment in order to achieve its development goal," said the premier.

"The Chinese government is committed to an independent foreign policy of peace and stands ready to work with other countries to advance the noble cause of peace and progress of mankind," Wen said.

China is firm in upholding its hard-won sovereignty and territorial integrity, and also respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries as well as the independent choice of their people for social systems and development paths, he said.

China is ready to develop friendly relations with all countries "on the basis of equality and mutual benefit rather than on ideology or political system," he said.

In international relations, China "does not seek to build alliance or become a leader and will never do so in the future," he said.

The premier also called for the peaceful settlement of international disputes. "As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China will continue to play an active and constructive role in promoting peaceful settlement of international hot?issues and regional conflicts," he said.

China's development "is peaceful in nature," Wen said, adding that it will not harm or pose a threat to anyone. "China does not seek hegemony now, nor will it do so in the future," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 25, 2008)