China is carrying out political reforms as well as economic reforms, and China backs peaceful and multilateral resolution for international issues, a senior Chinese official said Wednesday in Davos, Switzerland.

Wu Jianmin, president of China Foreign Affairs University and former Chinese ambassador to France, introduced China's policies at a session of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting at the Swiss alpine resort of Davos.

As to the widespread supposition that China, while embracing economic reform, has been slow to do likewise with political reforms, Wu cited the abolition of the people's commune system in rural China as one example of a structurla political change.

"Democracy is a good thing," said Wu, "but it should progress at speed defined by conditions in a particular country ... I don't believe there is a universal model of democracy suitable to the whole world."

Wu also addressed a question put to him on the Chinese reaction to US President George W. Bush's second inaugural address, which some have noted has signalled a shift to a more ideologically-grounded foreign policy.

"What worries us is not the ideology: it's how the Bush administration will translate these statements into action," said Wu, with particular reference to potential US military action against Iran.

Wu underscored China's commitment to peaceful, multilateral solution of international disputes in the framework of international law.