New York  - Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on Wednesday gave the world a view of what his country is like following the successful hosting of the Summer Olympic Games, stressing that it trails 100 countries in per capita income and its rural regions remain underdeveloped.

"Tens of millions of people lack adequate food and clothing," Wen said in his first address to the UN General Assembly in New York.

"China is still a developing country, where productivity remains low and further development is constrained by the shortage of resources and energy and environmental consequences," he said.

Despite China's continued high annual economic growth, Wen said development of rural and urban areas remains unbalanced and the rural regions in Western China are underdeveloped.

"Our socialist market economic system, democracy and the rule of law need to be further improved, and certain outstanding social issues are yet to be resolved," said Wen, who was known for his candid assessments of crises in the vast country with 1.3 billion people.

He said the international community has "highly commended" the successful Olympic Games held in Beijing in August. He said the games boosted the Chinese people's confidence and gave them strength to modernize the country.

He cited the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province in July, which killed more than 70,000 people, as the other major event for his country this year.

"Now the world wants to know in what direction China is heading, both politically and economically," he said.

He said China will unequivocably remain committed to the path of "peaceful development, unswervingly pursue reform and opening up, and continue to adhere to an independent foreign policy of peace."

Wen reiterated China's principles of non-interference and respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries.

"We will neither blindly follow the position of others nor give way to the pressure of any forces," Wen said. "In international relations, China does not seek to build alliance or become a leader, and will never do so in the future." (dpa)