China is experiencing the "third wave" of its embrace of the world, with the basic principle of building a sustainable and harmonious society, said an article of the China Daily on Wednesday.

The article said, if we view China's opening up policy in the 1980s as the "first wave" of China's embrace of the world, its admission to the World Trade Organization and its subsequent policy of encouraging business to go outside as the "second wave", today's acceptance of the principle of building a new harmonious society could be seen as the "third wave".

The article referred to a recent survey by the Modernization Institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The survey shows that by the mid-century China will encounter 10 big opportunities and challenges.

"Of particular interest is the fact that the 'big 10' includes 'a peaceful international environment' and 'development based on co-ordination between man and nature'."

"More amazing is the former, which spells out a clear yearning for peace in the larger world and indicates that the Chinese people are increasingly aware of their own closeness with the outside world," said the article.

"This survey has assured us that China is, in its own way, joining the new humanist movement that has been sweeping the world," said the article, "It is part of the worldwide social movement that addresses issues in the time of economic globalization."

"In China, the shock waves of the movement are evident, such as our attention to sustainable growth, human needs, disadvantaged social groups, social harmony, justice and fairness, ecological protection, prevention of family violence, women's rights, and world peace."

"Because of this, the Chinese people are making strides into the world and are embracing it with open arms," the article said.

Source: China Daily