Chinese President Hu Jintao said Monday that China, the world's largest developing country, will keep steadfastly to the path of peaceful development.

Addressing the Mexican Senate, Hu said the Chinese people are keenly aware of the value of peace and has learned that all peoples in the world can only achieve their goals of development by peaceful means.

Hu, who arrived in the Mexican capital Sunday on a state visit, elaborated on the importance of peaceful development.

Development can last and be reliable only if it is achieved by peaceful means, said Hu, adding that such development not only benefits the people in that particular country but people all overthe world.

China will hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, continue to pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, keep firmly to the path of peaceful development, and adhereto the mutually beneficial and win-win strategy of opening up.

He told the Mexican lawmakers that China will develop itself through extensive cooperation with other countries while at the same time promoting the common development of all countries in theworld and making incessant contributions to world peace.

More cooperation urged among developing countries

Peace, development and cooperation are the common wishes of alleoples, and common development through solidarity, cooperation and reciprocity is the aspiration of the peoples of developing countries, Hu said.

In recent years, he noted, the developing countries have been continuously strengthening cooperation and their overall economic power has obviously been increased.

As an important political and economic force, the Chinese president said, developing countries have been playing an increasingly important role in regional and international affairs,especially in pushing forward the establishment of fair and reasonable new international political and economic orders.

However, generally speaking, developing countries, who are burdened with arduous tasks of development, remain in a rather unfavorable position in face of fierce international economic and technological competitions, Hu said.

Therefore, developing countries must strengthen cooperation andexplore common grounds among themselves to boost their development, he pointed out.

They should tap the potential and expand the channel of cooperation, enlarge the areas and innovate the modes of cooperation, expand trade and investment on the basis of equality and reciprocity, said the Chinese president.

He also called on developing countries to strengthen consultation and coordination, make concerted efforts and participate in the formulation of international trade and financial regulations, and enable globalization to advance in a balanced, universally-beneficial and win-win direction.

Expending Sino-Mexican ties

During his speech, Hu raised a three-point proposal to push forward the bilateral ties.

-- earnestly develop bilateral strategic cooperation in a favorable way, materialize the agreements reached by the two countries' leaders and jointly push forward bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The standing committees concerned shoulddraft plans of common action as soon as possible to promote the bilateral strategic cooperation in various fields.

-- actively construct a platform for mutually beneficial cooperation in economy and trade between the two countries and implement all signed agreements.

-- foster social foundation for long-term China-Mexico friendly cooperation, strengthen exchanges at various levels and in various fields, and further deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples

China and Mexico set up diplomatic ties in 1972 and formed strategic partnership in December 2003.

President Hu arrived in Mexico from Canada on Sunday for a three-day visit.