Java, Hibernate, MySQL - store UTC date-time -

i saw here on few related questions (like this one , of course, this one)... essentially, want store date-time utc, , let application user choose time zone wants display date-time in.
since seems date-time fields affected underlying jdbc driver, wonder if acceptable way go storing utc date-time:

• set both mysql , application server machine utc time zone (no need separate)
• both mysql , jvm should pick underlying system time settings (if not instructed otherwise)
• use datetime table columns on mysql side
• use java.util.date corresponding mapping on hibernate side (i guess java.sql.timestamp used too)
• let application worry interpreting date-time fields - i.e. let user choose preferred time zone

is ok?

edit
clarify - here meant refer timestamps created strictly on server (e.g.date-time of record creation). application server instantiates date objects (new date() equals current date-time on server, , time zone agnostic).
if client user wants supply date searching/filtering purposes, here transformation client-local time utc should take place, imho...

i suggest simple approach independent of machine timezone settings.

• instead of setting timezone of server machine, set timezone of jvm. can done via system properties. on windows example follows

set java_opts=%java_opts% -duser.timezone=gmt 

• for mysql here reference doing it.
• now this make sure date-time in gmt
• keep timezone configurable property or can user dependent well. store timezone each user if users belong different geographies.
• whenever, date needed, after select database, apply timezone correct time.
• the advantage of approach work timezone users. meaning user see correct time per timezone.