China to maintain peace in Asia

China to maintain peace in Asia

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): China yesterday promised to make
"unswerving" and "unremitting" efforts to maintain peace and
stability in Asia and the world at large, which remains wary of
Beijing's role as an emerging superpower.

"Our goal is to enable our people to live a fairly comfortable
life by the end of the century and to catch up with an average
developed country by the middle of the next century," visiting
Chinese President Jiang Zemin said.

"To this end, China very much needs a surrounding and
international environment of long-term peace and stability,"
Jiang said.

Jiang, who arrived here yesterday for a four-day visit, said
at a state banquet hosted by Malaysian King Tuanku Jaafar Tuanku
Abdul Rahman that both China and Malaysia faced "the task of
safeguarding peace and developing economy."

"China stands ready to work together with Malaysia and other
Asian countries to bring a peaceful, stable, prosperous and
growing Asia into the 21st century," said Jiang.

The president's visit to Malaysia is part of a four-nation
tour, which includes Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.