China asks diplomats to use their economic clout

 BEIJING: Top Chinese leaders have asked diplomats to leverage their new found economic clout to help the nation's modernisation drive and launch multi-dimensional diplomacy to ensure world peace.

China will adhere to a mutual benefit and win-win strategy in its exchanges with the rest of the world, a three-day central meeting on foreign affairs attended by President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao here noted.

Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), proposed ways of strengthening and improving work related to foreign affairs. It was reported that Wen spelt out priorities for foreign affairs now and in the future.

The meeting stressed that the country should use its fast economic growth to promote global peace, which conforms to the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and the world.

China will transform the growth mode of foreign trade, expand the ratio of services trade, co-ordinate imports and exports, take concrete steps to protect intellectual property rights, and accelerate the signing of free trade pacts with other countries and regions.