SEATTLE, the United States -- Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao said here on Wednesday that China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development.

Hu made the remarks in a speech to experts and scholars from China and the United States, who gathered in this U.S. port city for a seminar on China's peaceful development and the future of Sino-U.S. relations.

Chinese President Hu Jintao meets with John Hamry (L), President of the Center of Stragetic and International Studies, at meeting of China scholars and academics, in Seattle April 19, 2006. CSIS is a bi-partisan, non-profit organization that conducts research and analysis for developing policy initiatives for the U.S. government. Hu is in the United States for his first formal visit as president and a meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday. [Reuters]

A true knowledge of China's option for peaceful development is vital to a profound understanding of the orientation of China's future development, a firm hold on the Sino-U.S. common strategic interests and efforts to push for the healthy and steady development of the Sino-U.S. relations, he said.

The Chinese president added that China has adopted the path of peaceful development in line with its national conditions, history and cultural heritage, as well as the trend of the times.

"Upholding the banner of peace, development and cooperation, we will firmly adhere to the independent foreign policy of peace, follow the path of peaceful development, and carry out the mutually beneficial and win-win strategy of opening-up to the rest of the world," said Hu.

China will not only seek a peaceful international environment for its development but also promote world peace through its development, he noted.

A peacefully developing country will be a major force to boost peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large, Hu said. China's peaceful development will create broader space for cooperation between China and the United States,and offer a historic opportunity for the development of Sino-U.S. ties.

Under the current international situation, the importance of Sino-U.S.relations has increased, not diminished; their common strategic interests have expanded, not shrunk, and the space for bilateral cooperation has broadened, not narrowed, the Chinese president said.

With joint efforts by both sides, the development of Sino-U.S. ties has maintained a stable momentum in recent years, having benefited not only both countries and their people, but also boosted peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole.

Hu said experts and scholars from both countries have a big role to play in enhancing bilateral ties.

He hoped that experts and scholars from both sides would make continued contributions to the development of the Sino-U.S. constructive relations of cooperation.

Hu arrived here earlier Tuesday for his first state visit to the United States, with Seattle being the first stop of his four-day stay in the country which ends on Friday.

The United States is the first leg of his five-nation tour, which will also take him to Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Nigeria and Kenya.