Chinese President Hu Jintao urged in Bangkok Monday that Pacific Rim countries take steps to boost stability so as to keep the region's momentum of rapid growth seen in past decades.

"The reason why this region has kept the high growth momentum for decades is because it has basically maintained an environment of peace and stability," the Chinese president said in an address delivered at the first-day session of the 11th Economic Leaders' Meeting of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

"We should enhance mutual trust and endeavor to make the Asia-Pacific region stable," Hu said. "Stability is a prerequisite for development."

"We should cherish particularly this peaceful and stable situation that has not come by easily," he added.

The Chinese president urged member economies to increase mutual trust on the basis of mutual respect, seek common ground while putting aside differences, and work to resolve whatever problems there might be through dialogue and consultation in a joint effort to maintain peace and stability in the region.

"The Asia-Pacific is a region of rich diversity. Countries are different in history, cultural tradition, political system and economic model, which gives the region its very vigor and vitality," Hu noted.

He also urged APEC members to work together in the fight against terrorism and other non-traditional threats.

"For some time, terrorist attacks have gone on unabated in the Asia-Pacific region, undermining the economic and social development of a number of countries," Hu said.

"We should respond to that with closer cooperation and stronger measures to address both the symptoms and root causes of the problem, stand rock firm against terrorism and create a more favorable environment for common development and common prosperity," the Chinese president added.

(Xinhua News Agency October 21, 2003)