China Voice: New plan demonstrates China's pursuit of peaceful development

China's peaceful development path is not just a stopgap measure - as demonstrated by the newly published proposal on formulating the economic and social development plan covering the next five years.

For many years, China has actively promoted "peaceful development," but the message has not been wholeheartedly embraced by some countries with claims that China seeks expansion or hegemony.

Such alarmism is understandable, yet far from the reality.

Before China, few major countries in the world had ever risen peacefully. Now, China is facing the difficulty of convincing the world that peace is possible and desirable.

To deal with such misgivings, Chinese President Xi Jinping has spoken of the notion of "common destiny" dozens of times since 2012.

"In the interest of peace, we need to foster a keen sense of a global community of shared future," he said during a V-Day speech on Sept. 3, which marks the 70th anniversary of China's victory in the war against Japanese aggression.

The notion is not an empty slogan, but an internal requirement for the country's rejuvenation.

China's success is inextricably linked to the growth of others. Without peace, stability and growth on China's borders, there is no way forward. A favorable international environment is conducive to the country's continued development.

Proposal on formulating the 13th Five-Year Plan, the first under the leadership of Xi, came as the world's second largest economy adjusts to plateauing growth. The economy expanded 6.9 percent year on year in the third quarter of 2015, the lowest reading since the second quarter of 2009.

The pressure of an economic slowdown has not prompted China to resort to colonial expansion, as was the case with some European powers centuries ago, which attempted to strengthen the domestic economy at the expense of other countries.

Instead, China has targeted innovation, domestic consumption growth and industrial transformation as the new drive for continued economic growth, as demonstrated in the proposal for the new Five-Year Plan.

China is rising, but it is a peaceful rise. The country's boon is not only benefitting its own people, but also bringing opportunities to people throughout the world.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the "Belt and Road" initiative, the BRICS New Development Bank, the Silk Road Fund and China-ASEAN Interbank Association initiatives are all proof of China's commitment to building a better world.

China has promised to promote the "Belt and Road" initiative through cooperation with countries and regions along the route, and participate in global industrial and equipment manufacturing cooperation in the next five years.

Moreover, it has vowed to improve the international economic order, offer more aid to other developing countries and deal with global challenges, ranging from climate change and counter-terrorism to peace-keeping and poverty reduction.

China sees itself as a member of the global community of common destiny and what is has been doing all point to improving the conditions of this community. Endi