China's Xi pledges peace, opening-up in first meeting with foreigners

BEIJING, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Wednesday used his first meeting with foreign guests since his election to stress China's commitment to peaceful development and opening-up policy.

"China is following a path of peaceful development," Xi told a group of foreign experts working in China.

He was sworn in as leader of the ruling party of the most populous country last month after the 18th CPC National Congress.

Xi said that the country's progress is not a selfish kind that will prove detrimental to other countries.

China's development will never be a challenge or a threat to any other country or the world at large, Xi said.

"China will never seek hegemony or expansionism," said Xi, who is also chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission.

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