New Delhi, Oct. 15 : China will not engage in arms race and will never seek hegemony over any region, President Hu Jintao told delegates at the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Monday.

Jintao, who is also the General Secretary of CPC Central Committee, pledged that China would follow "a national defence policy that is defensive in nature, and it does not engage in arms race or pose a military threat to any other country."

"China opposes all forms of hegemonism and power politics and will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion," The China Daily quoted him, as saying.

Stressing that peaceful development is a strategic choice for Beijing, Hu, reiterated that China works for peaceful settlement of international disputes and hotspot issues, promotes international and regional security cooperation, and oppose terrorism in any form.

China will unswervingly follow a win-win strategy of opening up and will accommodate the legitimate concerns of other countries, especially other developing countries, he also said.

China would support efforts to improve international trade and financial systems, advance the liberalization and facilitation of trade and financial systems, advance the liberation and facilitations of trade and investment, and properly resolve economic and trade frictions through consultation and collaboration, he added.

According to the work report delivered by Hu, China has accelerated the revolution in military affairs with Chinese characteristics.

The armed forces were reduced by 200,000 troops during the past five years, and efforts were intensified in all respects to make the armed forces more revolutionary, modernized and standardized. (ANI)