Chinese President Xi Jinping has attended a gala celebrating the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up in Beijing. The gala named our 40 years looks back on the history of the country's transformation since 1978. Over the last four decades China has become the world's second largest economy and has successfully lifted more than 700 million Chinese out of poverty. That accounts for over 70% of global poverty reduction during the period. The Chinese government has reiterated it will continue to advance measures for reform and opening-up.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed that his country will not develop at the expense of other nations, in a speech marking 40 years since China introduced major economic reforms.

However, he also said that the global superpower would not be told what to do by anyone.

Late leader Deng Xiaoping's campaign of "reform and opening up" began four decades ago.

The resulting growth has made China the second-largest economy in the world.

Hundreds of millions of people have been lifted out of poverty but in recent years China has struggled with mounting debt and slowing economic growth.

Mr Xi said despite his country's economic achievements, China would "never seek global hegemony" and also highlighted its contributions towards a "shared future for mankind".

He did not mention the current trade dispute with the United States.

Mr Xi spent much of his lengthy speech listing examples of China's progress over the past decades, praising them as "epic achievements that moved heaven and Earth".

He said that given its success, "no-one is in a position to dictate to the Chinese people what should or should not be done".

At the same time, he stressed what he described as Chinese efforts to work towards the greater global good, saying Beijing was a "promoter of world peace", a "defender of international order" and holding "a leading role in dealing with climate change".