UNITED NATIONS/NEW YORK, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday addressed the UN General Assembly during its general debate to elaborate on China's position on major world and regional issues and met presidents of Russia and South Korea on the sidelines of the UN meetings.

During his speech at the general debate of the 64th session of the UN General Assembly, President Hu put forward a four-point proposal on building a harmonious world, calling on the international community to work together for world peace and development.

Hu said the trend toward peace, development and cooperation has grown stronger than ever in the world. Meanwhile, he noted that the instability and uncertainties in the international landscape pose "severe challenges" to world peace and development.

In the face of unprecedented opportunities and challenges, members of the international community should continue the joint endeavor "to build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity and contribute to the noble cause of peace and development of mankind," he said.

The Chinese president put forward his four-point view with regard to world peace and development.

First, the international community should view security in a broader perspective and safeguard world peace and stability.

Hu said countries should embrace a new security thinking of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination.

Second, the international community should take a more holistic approach to development and promote common prosperity.

Without the development and equal participation of developing countries, there cannot be common prosperity in the world, nor a more just and equitable international economic order, he added.

Responsible measures should be taken to counter the international financial crisis, firmly oppose protectionism and actively work for an early, comprehensive and balanced outcome of the Doha round negotiations, said Hu.

Third, members of the international community should pursue cooperation with a more open mind and work for mutual benefit and common progress.

Hu said climate change, food security, energy and resource security and public health security are all global challenges and no country is immune from them.

"The only way for us to meet these challenges and ensure harmony and peace is to engage in closer international cooperation," said Hu.

Fourth, the international community should be more tolerant to one another and live together in harmony.

Countries should acknowledge differences in cultural tradition, social system and values and respect the right of all countries to independently choose their development paths, added Hu.

President Hu also pledged to further assist the development of other developing countries when addressing the UN General Assembly.

"As a responsible and major developing country, China has always made common development an important aspect of its foreign policy," Hu said in his speech.

"We have made great efforts to provide support and assistance to other developing countries, and fulfilled our commitment under the UN Millennium Declaration," he said.

To further assist other developing countries, the Chinese president said, China will increase support for those hit hard by the global financial crisis, earnestly implement relevant capital increase and financing plans, intensify trade and investment cooperation and help raise their capacity for risk-resistance and sustainable development.

"China will continue to implement the measures announced at the UN High-level Event on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to assist other developing countries in speeding up development and facilitate the attainment of the MDGs," he added.

Hu also promised China's efforts to promote regional monetary and financial cooperation, maintain financial and economic stability and push forward financial cooperation and trade in the region.

Hu noted that since the outbreak of the global financial crisis, China has kept its currency's exchange rate basically stable, which helps maintain healthy international trade.

China has taken an active part in the trade finance program of the International Finance Corporation and provided financing support to the International Monetary Fund, which will be mainly used to help developing countries, Hu said.

Also on Wednesday, President Hu met his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in New York to discuss bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern on the sidelines of the UN meetings.

Hu said China attaches great importance to enhancing the strategic partnership of cooperation with Russia and is working to implement the consensus reached during his visit to Russia in June.

He said the recently approved cooperation program between northeast China and Russia's far east and east Siberian region is important to boosting cooperation in the border areas of the two countries.

China appreciates Russia's firm support to the Chinese government in the wake of the July 5 riot in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Hu said.

Hu briefed Medvedev on China's economic conditions, saying China's stimulus package and other measures taken amid the international financial crisis have brought about tangible results, while the economy still faces some difficulties.

China would stick to a proactive fiscal policy and a moderately easy monetary policy, focus on boosting domestic demand, consumption in particular, step up industrial restructuring and promote innovation, Hu said.

He said China and Russia have maintained close communication and coordination and engaged in fruitful cooperation in their joint efforts to address the impact of the global financial crisis. He called for strengthening cooperation with Russia in promoting reform of the international financial system to protect the common interests of both nations and developing countries at large.

Medvedev, for his part, said Russia values the strategic partnership of cooperation with China.

On energy cooperation, Medvedev said Russia is ready to promote cooperation with China in power generation and nuclear energy.

The customs of the two sides should work together to boost the healthy development of bilateral trade, the Russian leader said.

Russia is also ready to cooperate with China in environmental protection, immigration and other fields and to enhance coordination in international financial coordination, he added.

He said that issues related to Xinjiang are completely China's internal affairs, adding that no outside forces should interfere.

President Hu also met with his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday morning to discuss bilateral ties and other issues of common interests.

Hu said that thanks to their joint efforts the two countries have seen steady progress of exchanges and cooperation in various fields in recent years.

Hu noted that the two countries have maintained fine communication and coordination in regional and international affairs, adding that China is ready to join hands with South Koreato strengthen strategic communication and expand mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to bring concrete benefits to both peoples and contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in Northeast Asia.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of launching of a trilateral cooperative scheme among China, South Korea and Japan, Hu said.

Over the past decade, the three countries have established a future-oriented, all-dimensional cooperative partnership that has led to the promotion of development and stability in their countries and the region at large, said the Chinese president.

During the meeting, Hu announced that leaders from China, South Korea and Japan will hold their second meeting in Beijing on Oct. 10, 2009.

As situation in Northeast Asia shows signs of thawing, Hu called on all concerned parties to seize the opportunity to further improve the regional situation and bring the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue back on the track of dialogues and negotiations.

China is willing to work with South Korea to play a constructive role in realizing the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and maintaining peace and stability in the peninsula and Northeast Asia, the Chinese president said.

During the meeting, Hu also called for strengthened cooperation between the two countries to boost the common development of their economies.

Lee said he fully agreed with President Hu's view on bilateral ties and expressed his willingness to bring the strategic and cooperative partnership between the two countries to a higher level.

Lee said the stabilization and rally of the Chinese economy play a significant role in promoting trade and economic cooperation between China and South Korea, as well as in world economic recovery.

Hu's speech at the UN climate change summit on Tuesday showed clearly China's active stance on climate change and won applause from countries around the world, Lee said.

South Korea is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China on regional and global issues, he said.

He also spoke highly of China's important role in the six-partytalks on nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula and pledged South Korea's efforts to keep contact and cooperation with China in this regard.

Lee said that along with the rising status and influence of Asia on the world stage, South Korea, China and Japan should have even closer cooperation.

Hu is in New York for the UN climate change summit, the general debate of the UN General Assembly and a Security Council summit on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. After the UN meetings, he will fly to Pittsburgh to attend a financial summit of the Group of 20.