China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development and seek to promote equality in international relations

One of the most prominent features of international relations at present, and one that will have far-reaching effects on them, is the rise of developing countries.

Up until the end of the last century, global wealth and power was unevenly distributed among different countries and regions in the world, with developed countries and transnational conglomerates controlling the lion's share of global wealth.

However, this situation has changed since the turn of the century, with the rapid rise of China and other emerging economies.

The rise of the BRICS countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - and other emerging economies has promoted the distribution and development of global wealth and power in a more balanced manner. The combined gross domestic product of the G7 industrialized countries - the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, France, Canada and Italy - has decreased from more than 70 percent of the world's total GDP two decades ago, to 50 percent, while the combined GDP of the BRICS countries has increased from 15 percent of the world's total a decade ago to 25 percent.

China is now the world's second-largest economy and it has an enormous influence on the global economy and international affairs. Neighboring countries, and indeed the world as a whole, have benefited from China's rise, as shown by the continually increasing economic ties with other countries.

In his report delivered to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Hu Jintao, former general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, once again highlighted that sharing opportunities for development and rising to challenges together are in the interests of the people of all countries and meet their common aspirations.

China maintains that all countries, big and small, strong and weak, rich and poor, are equal, and it is committed to combining the interests of the Chinese people with the common interests of the people of other countries. China opposes all forms of hegemony and power politics and will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion, and it will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development.