Xi Jinping (left), general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Keqiang (2nd left), Wang Yang (3rd left) and Zhao Leji attend a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC in Beijing, capital of China, July 1, 2021. (LI XUEREN / XINHUA)
The Chinese people have never and will not bully, oppress or subjugate people of any other country, and they will not allow any foreign force to bully, oppress or subjugate them either, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said on Thursday.
"Anyone who would attempt to do so will find themselves on a collision course with a great wall of steel forged by over 1.4 billion Chinese people," Xi said.
Xi, who is also China's president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when elaborating on China's interactions with the rest of the world in his speech on Thursday in Beijing at a ceremony marking the centenary of the CPC.
Peace, concord, and harmony are ideas the Chinese nation has pursued and carried forward for more than 5,000 years. The Chinese nation does not carry aggressive or hegemonic traits in its genes.
Xi Jinping,
Chinese president
He said the Chinese are a people who uphold justice and are not intimidated by threats of force. "As a nation, we have a strong sense of pride and confidence," he said.
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Xi emphasized that, in order to draw lessons from history and chart a course for the future, there is a need to constantly advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
"Peace, concord, and harmony are ideas the Chinese nation has pursued and carried forward for more than 5,000 years. The Chinese nation does not carry aggressive or hegemonic traits in its genes," Xi said.
"The Party cares about the future of humanity, and wishes to move forward in tandem with all progressive forces around the world. China has always worked to safeguard world peace, contribute to global development, and preserve international order," Xi said.
Envisioning the new journey to the future, Xi said China must fly high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and win-win spirit, further pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, and adhere to the path of peaceful development.
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The country will work to build a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind, promote high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative through joint efforts, and use China's new achievements in development to provide the world with new opportunities, he added.
The CPC will continue to work with all peace-loving countries and people to carry forward the common values of humanity－peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, Xi said.
He stressed the need to stay true to cooperation instead of confrontation, opening up rather than closing doors, mutual benefits rather than zero-sum games, hegemony or power politics, thereby keeping the wheels of history rolling toward bright horizons.
zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn