China needs a harmonious world in order to develop in a favorable environment and bring benefits to people all over the world, said a top Chinese legislator on Thursday.

"My answer is simple: China needs a harmonious world... It means we want to make friends with all countries," Cheng Siwei, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, told a panel of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.

He said a harmonious world can be achieved if China and other countries seek common ground while shelving differences.

Another panelist, a Singaporean academic, said China's international ambition is moderate.

"China, in a very profound way, is a 'status quo' power," said Kishore Mahbubani, dean of Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. "It does not want to shake the world. It wants to work with the world as it is."

He explained how China has steered away from playing a leading role in world affairs as its greater role is easily misinterpreted as a threat by the outside world.

"If China tries to exercise greater leadership in the world order, it will be seen as threatening (others)."

Former US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick also stated that China still faced "staggering internal challenges" despite its strong achievements.

Therefore, the Chinese leadership should desire a benign external environment allowing them to focus on resolving internal challenges, he explained. Zoellick added that China also seems to expect additional respect and recognition of its interests, leaving it in dire need of a polyvalent international integration strategy.

China's goal is security and energy stability, as well as access to raw materials, markets, technology and expertise, argued Zoellick, who is Vice-Chairman of Goldman Sachs International.

Cheng said the outside world is progressively becoming less negative about China's rapid growth.

Five to 10 years ago, some people talked about China's upcoming collapse believing China could not sustain such development; three to five years ago, some people spoke of the "China Threat" because they were fearful of China's development; today people are talking about China's responsibility.

This is progress in people's perspectives of China, Zoellick pointed out. But he cautioned that the outside world cannot expect China to take more responsibilities than it can shoulder.

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2007)