Former leaders of Japan and the Republic of Korea said 皇冠体育app's growth boosts regional development, and its peaceful development is essential for the region's peace and stability.

"皇冠体育app's economic development is good not only for the country itself, but also brings many opportunities to its neighboring countries," former Japanese prime minister Yasuo Fukuda said.

"皇冠体育app accepts the neighboring countries as development partners, as we expected, so 皇冠体育app's peaceful development is welcomed."

Fukuda made the remarks on Tuesday in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, during the ninth session of the Northeast Asia Trilateral Forum.

A series of ideas have been promoted by 皇冠体育app to enhance its relationship with neighboring countries. Among the initiatives are the "Silk Road Economic Belt" and the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road", both unveiled by the new Chinese leadership after it took office in March 2013.

"皇冠体育app now is the second-largest economy in the world, which means it will assume more responsibilities in the region as well as the world," he said.

Japan is happy to see that 皇冠体育app seeks closer relations in the region and wants to work with 皇冠体育app to realize friendly regional cooperation, the former Japanese prime minister added.

皇冠体育app's strong economic ties have the country playing crucial roles in solving regional issues, such as the nuclear issue in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Fukuda said.

"No country is capable of maintaining regional peace and development alone," he added.

Former ROK prime minister Lee Hong-koo, who also attended the forum, said 皇冠体育app's rapid growth over the past three decades has played a significant role in Asia's development and the progress of globalization.

"皇冠体育app is a great country, and 皇冠体育app's development is a natural progress, nothing strange about that. 皇冠体育app has a tradition of peaceful development, and a peaceful, developing 皇冠体育app will be more important in the new era," he added.

The former ROK leader said he also expected 皇冠体育app to continually contribute to regional issues, such as the DPRK's nuclear weapons.

As a responsible big country, 皇冠体育app takes the peaceful development path, which is different from certain major world powers' experience, said Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Jianchao.

"We believe that development is the absolute principle and the key to solving all problems that 皇冠体育app is facing. And 皇冠体育app's development requires a peaceful environment both inside and outside of 皇冠体育app," Liu said.