Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (
Wen made the comments at a meeting in Islamabad of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, a forum aimed at promoting economic cooperation in Asia.
Wen called for peace in Asia and urged more cooperation in energy, environmental protection and financial dialogue, and for free trade agreements among Asian nations.
"Asia needs peace. Peace is the precondition for well-being and prosperity ... a truly Asian century will never materialize unless Asia develops as a whole," Wen said at a meeting of foreign ministers and senior government officials from Asian and Middle Eastern nations.
Wen told other nations that they need not worry about an increasingly powerful and developed China.
He said Beijing will "concentrate on addressing domestic concerns" and will protect the interests of developing nations "with no political conditions attached."
"Some people are worried that a stronger and more developed China would pose a threat to other countries. Such worry is completely misplaced ... even if we become stronger and more developed, we will not stand in the way of others, still less become a threat to others. China will never seek hegemony," Wen said.
The Asia Cooperation Dialogue was formed in 2002 at the initiative of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and includes Japan, China, South Korea, India, Pakistan, other Asian states and several Gulf countries.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Asian nations should come together to utilize their potential to achieve peace and prosperity.
Aziz called for promotion of investment and joint business ventures among members of the forum, and regular meetings among finance ministers and central bank chiefs.
On Tuesday, Wen and Aziz signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation with Pakistan, promising to lend Beijing's support to help Islamabad resolve outstanding disputes with India.
At the meeting with Aziz in Islamabad, Wen also lent Beijing's "full support" in helping resolve issues with India -- including efforts to settle the a decades-long dispute over the divided region of Kashmir, said Salman Bashir, Pakistani ambassador to China
On Tuesday, China and Pakistan in the presence of Wen and Aziz signed 22 agreements to enhance cooperation in areas including defense and trade.
Bashir said the most important aspect of the talks between Aziz and Wen was the "clear, unambiguous, categorical assurance by China to defend Pakistan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity."
Aziz said China will help Pakistan build its third nuclear power plant, and a groundbreaking ceremony for it will be held tomorrow.
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