Chinese president: all will benefit when everyone develops

BEIJING, June 28 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday called for common development, saying that all will benefit when everyone develops.

Xi made the remarks in a keynote speech at a commemoration marking the 60th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing.

Xi said the sky, earth and world are big enough to allow the common development and prosperity of all countries.

Some countries are getting richer while others are locked in poverty and underdevelopment, Xi told a 700-strong audience. "Such a situation should not be allowed to continue."

"Just as rising water lifts all boats, and more water in the tributaries make a wider river, all will benefit when everyone develops. When developing themselves, countries should work actively for common development of others so that the gains of development will reach more people in the world," Xi said.

He called on countries to jointly uphold and develop an open global economy, promote strong, sustainable and balanced global growth as well as trade and investment liberalization and facilitation and uphold open regional cooperation.

Countries should oppose protectionism of all forms and any attempt or practice to hurt others' interests or shift crisis to others, he said.

He also called on countries to enhance South-South cooperation and North-South dialogue, strengthen developing countries' capacity for self-development, urge developed countries to shoulder more responsibilities, and narrow the North-South gap.

"This will help build a more equal and more balanced new global partnership for development and cement the foundation for achieving long-term and stable global growth," said the president.

Myanmar President U Thein Sein and Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari participated in the commemoration and delivered speeches.

Also present at the commemoration were Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, top legislator Zhang Dejiang and top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng.

In 1954, leaders of China, India and Myanmar initiated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which stand for 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.