A harmonious Middle East is in the long-term interest of the people of the region and the whole worldat large, and peace and stability in the region is the common wish of the whole world, visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Riyadh on Sunday.

Addressing Saudi Arabia's Shura, the consultative council that advises the King and cabinet, Hu said that peace and prosperity ofthe world could not come without the stability and development of the Middle East, an region of great influence to the world.

After the Cold War, the Middle East region has been generally heading along a path of peace and stability, but has still faced with various challenges, with some hot issues long hanging without just and reasonable resolutions, new conflicts keeping emerging and factors of uncertainty and instability threatening regional peace and security remaining, Hu said.

All these have kept the region far from fully tapping its potential for development, Hu said.

To build a harmonious Middle East, long-term strenuous efforts could not be spared in the following aspects, Hu said.

Firstly, all parties should strive to realize regional peace and stability through strengthening consultations and negotiationson an equal footing, which are the only feasible means to settle conflicts and disputes, Hu said.

Secondly, mutual respect should be upheld. The spirit of inclusiveness must be upheld in handling differences among various civilizations in the region and jointly building a harmonious region where all civilizations coexist and accommodate each other.

Countries in the region have their own histories and cultural heritages, and the efforts and rights of different countries in the region to independently choose their own social systems and paths of development should be respected and guaranteed, said the Chinese president.

Thirdly, cooperation in development should be encouraged. Development is an important foundation and safeguard for peace andstability, which is indispensable for lasting peace, Hu said.

Development should be realized through mutually beneficial cooperation under the circumstances of globalization, Hu said, adding that such cooperation would promote understanding and friendship between various countries, and be conducive to common prosperity and therefore to lasting peace of the region and the world at large.