President says China pledged to peace

BEIJING, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- China's president, in his New Year's address, promised the country would continue to develop peacefully while helping poor countries advance.

"The Chinese people will develop ourselves by means of striving for a peaceful international environment, and promote world peace with our own development," Hu Jintao said.

The speech was carried by China Radio International, China National Radio and China Central Television, Xinhua, the official government news agency said.

Hu said the Chinese people are committed to multilateralism.