Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday called for respect for different civilizations in efforts to build a harmonious world, and vowed that the policy of reform and opening up will continue in his country's modernization drive.

In a speech delivered at Ecole Polytechnique, a leading university in France, Wen said harmony is the ultimate source of coexistence and development of the world's civilizations.

Expounding on the concept of "he," the Chinese word meaning harmony or peace, the Chinese premier said it holds the key, in the final analysis, to the coexistence and development of different civilizations -- peace among states, good neighborliness among individuals and harmony between Humanity and Nature.

"Every nation has her soul in culture -- the roots on which she depends for survival and progress. For either the Chinese nation or the French nation, the cultures that we inherit and carry forward are the roots of the nation and soul of the state," said Wen.

Cultural diversity is an objective reality in this world and only when the diversity of cultures is respected, will civilizations progress, he said.

"On this planet where we live, there are more than 6 billion people, over 200 countries, more than 2,500 ethnic groups, over 6,000 languages and many religions such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Taoism. Thanks to the interdependence and intercommunion of different civilizations, we are now living in a colorful world," he said.

On the harmonious coexistence among individuals, Wen said it is the hallmark of civilized societies and the basis of national stability.

"To deliver an authentic harmony among individuals, we must increase productivity and eradicate poverty to bring prosperity to all. We must achieve social equity and justice, adhere to the principle of equality of all before the law, defend and safeguard human rights," he said.

"We must encourage tolerance and respect among people of different ethnic groups and faiths, be friendly with others and treat neighbors as partners," said the Chinese premier.

As to the harmonious coexistence between Humanity and Nature, Wen stressed that it is the precondition for the development of civilizations.

"The survival of humanity depends on resources and environment...It is in the common interests of Humanity to take care of and do good to Nature," he said.

Noting that culture is the best bridge to get souls connected, the Chinese premier then urged the French and Chinese youth to stand hand in hand to face up to the challenges of the 21st century.

"Apart from the glorious development of civilizations, the 20thcentury also witnessed human slaughter, large-scale destruction of the environment as well as mass famines, poverty and diseases," he said.

"In the 21st century, our civilizations face unprecedented opportunities and unparalleled challenges. Only through peace among states, good neighborliness among individuals and harmony between Humanity and Nature, could our civilizations keep going forward," he said.

In his speech, Wen also said China will unswervingly adhere to the policy of reform and opening up.

"China's socialist society is the one marked by transformation, opening up and continued development and improvement," said the premier.

Besides economic reforms, China will continue to push forward the process of its political, cultural and social reforms, Wen said.

China's "all-round reforms" are aimed at arousing the Chinese people's enthusiasm and creativity, further liberating and developing productive force to meet their growing material and cultural needs, he said.

To turn China into a free, modernized country with a well-established legal system, the country is trying to develop a democratic system, reinforce the rule of law, and continue to expand political participation by its people, he said.

Meanwhile, China needs to absorb and draw on all the splendid achievements of civilization made by other countries to maintain the vigor of socialism, said Wen.

To lift the country out of poverty and seek development is a dream cherished by the Chinese people for generations, said the premier.

However, as a developing country with a population of 1.3 billion, China is faced with problems rare both in their scale and complexity, and there is a long way to go before the dream can come true, he noted.

Still, it is firmly believed that China will develop into a prosperous, democratic and civilized socialist country, and the Chinese for generations to come will continue to make every effort to make this happen, said Wen.

Meanwhile, the premier said China will stick to its road of peaceful development and opening up based on the principle of reciprocity.

An emerging China is an opportunity to the world, rather than a threat, said Wen, adding that China's stability and development itself is a significant contribution to world peace and prosperity.

The Chinese people have long been pursuing peace and good neighborliness, and as the Chinese nation has suffered from the aggression of imperialist powers since modern times, the Chinese people held it much dearer to treasure peace, said Wen.

Taking a road of peaceful development is a natural and inevitable choice for China based on its history and reality, and China will unswervingly stick to it, said the premier.

The Sino-French ties are at their best in history regarding increasingly strengthened mutual trust, economic and trade cooperation as well as cultural exchanges, said Wen.

China highly values the cooperative relations with France and the friendship with the French people, he said.

China sees France as a trustworthy friend and partner and has every confidence in the bilateral ties in the future, said the premier.

Wen's speech drew long applause from teachers and students, who were cheered by his words.

French Education Minister Gilles de Robien and Ecole Polytechnique's president Xavier Michel said exchanges and cooperation with China are a priority in France's educational relationship. They hoped to train capable people for the two countries and promote the development of bilateral ties via educational cooperation.

Juan Pino, a student of the year 2004, said he was touched by Wen's speech, which is optimistic and edifies the future of Sino-French cooperation. It also encouraged him to learn more about China and to visit and work in the country one day.

Stephane Reiche, a student of the year 2003, offered his bicorne hat to Premier Wen and said in Chinese that he thanked the Premier for visiting his school and accepting his gift, a symbol of this most prestigious school in France, established in 1794 amid the French Revolution. He hoped more and more Chinese students could go and study there and do scientific researches with French students to build together a peaceful and beautiful world.

Wen arrived in France on Sunday for a four-day official visit. France is the first leg of his five-nation European-Asian tour, which will also take him to Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Portugal and Malaysia.

The premier will also attend the ninth Summit between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the First East Asian Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

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