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China is dedicated to peace, says Hu Jintao

Beijing to double scholarships for African students

PRETORIA (South Africa): The visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao said here on Wednesday that China's development is peaceful, open, cooperative and harmonious in nature.

Mr. Hu, who arrived here earlier on Tuesday from the Namibian capital of Windhoek for a three-day state visit to South Africa, made the remarks in a speech at the University of Pretoria.

``We aim to build a harmonious society at home, and work with other countries to build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity''.

The President added that China is dedicated to peace, development and cooperation. ``We will continue to pursue the independent foreign policy of peace, the path of peaceful development and the opening-up strategy for mutual benefit,'' Mr. Hu said.

"Harmonious world"

The Chinese, as a peace-loving nation, are ready to work with the African people to build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.

``We believe in cooperation and harmony among nations, and we hold that the strong and the rich should not bully the weak and the poor,'' said the President.

Mr. Hu said that for more than 100 years in China's modern history, the Chinese people were subjected to colonial aggression and oppression by foreign powers and went through similar suffering and agony that the majority of African countries endure.

Because of this, he said, the Chinese people are most strongly opposed to colonialism, oppression, and slavery of all manifestations, and have the most profound sympathy for all other nations in their pursuit of independence, happiness and their aspirations.

Mr. Hu said China, which currently provides 2,000 Government scholarships for African students each year, will double the number in the next three years. — Xinhua

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