Emerging economies are not "free riders" and will continue to play a more active role in international affairs, a senior Foreign Ministry official told a global security forum on Saturday.

Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Song Tao made the remarks during a panel discussion at the three-day Munich Security Conference, which concluded on Sunday in the southern German city, Xinhua News Agency reported. The annual conference - the largest-ever in its history - focused on emerging economies and global governance.

The rapid growth of a large number of developing countries represented by China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia in recent years has raised questions such as how they will shape the future of the world order.