China's Xi preaches peace in key note address

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives for the opening of the annual full session of the National People's Congress, the country's parliament, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 5, 2015. REUTERS/Jason Lee

BOAO, China (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Saturday that turmoil at home or abroad were not in the country's interests as its bitter past has shown, pledging that Beijing will never stray from its proclaimed path of peaceful development.

Xi has jangled regional nerves with a more muscular approach to diplomacy since assuming the presidency two years ago, ramping up development of advanced weapons and being more assertive in territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas.