China's growing strength is a force for peace and international equity and justice, said the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

File photo: MFA

Hua Chunying made the remarks Thursday at a regular press conference, adding that there are many objective, rational voices within NATO who do not want to make an enemy of China, in response to the NATO declaration issued in London on Wednesday that did not identify China as a threat, despite intense lobbying and pressure from US officials.

Hua stressed that China is a big economy with a growing influence that insists on a path of peaceful development.

"We believe in harmony without uniformity, equality and mutual respect," Hua said, adding that the biggest threat and challenge facing the world is unilateralism and bullying, which also afflicts US alliances.