BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on the international community to carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence under the new circumstances and jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity.
Xi made the remarks when addressing the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in Beijing.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang presided over the conference. Senior Chinese officials including Cai Qi attended the conference.
Around 600 people, including former foreign political figures, representatives of international and regional organizations, envoys from more than 100 countries, experts and scholars, and media and business representatives, attended the conference. A luncheon and four sub-forums were held on the same day.
BECOMING BASIC NORMS FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Noting that the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have transcended time and space and overcome estrangement over the past 70 years, Xi said they have become open, inclusive, and universally applicable basic norms for international relations and fundamental principles of international law.
He said the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have set a historic benchmark for international relations and international rule of law, served as the prime guidance for the establishment and development of relations between countries with different social systems, been a powerful rallying force behind the efforts of developing countries to pursue cooperation and self-strength through unity, and contributed historic wisdom to the reform and improvement of the international order.
These principles were initiated with the purpose of protecting the interests and pursuits of small and weak countries from power politics, Xi said, adding that they categorically oppose imperialism, colonialism and hegemonism, and have laid an important intellectual foundation for a more just and equitable international order.
Having traversed an extraordinary journey of 70 years, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are a common asset of the international community to be valued, inherited and further promoted, he added.
Former Myanmar President U Thein Sein said these principles have received widespread recognition from various countries and international organizations, and have been incorporated into many joint statements between countries.
Gao Fei, vice president of China Foreign Affairs University, said these principles bear enduring importance in addressing international relations, maintaining global peace and stability, and promoting the development and progress of humanity.
SUSTAINING, UPGRADING THE FIVE PRINCIPLES
Noting that the world today faced the historic question of "what kind of world to build and how to build it," Xi said China has answered the call of the times by proposing a community with a shared future for humanity, and the vision is the most effective move to sustain, promote and upgrade the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in the new circumstances.
Xi said the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity carries forward the same spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and both demonstrate the broad vision of the Communist Party of China to contribute more to humanity, and manifest China's firm resolve to follow the path of peaceful development.
"At this historic moment when mankind have to choose between peace and war, prosperity and recession, unity and confrontation, we must champion more than ever the essence of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and we must always strive tirelessly for the lofty goal of building a community with a shared future for humanity," Xi said.
He called on the world to uphold the principle of sovereign equality, cement the foundation of mutual respect, turn the vision for peace and security into reality, unite all forces to achieve prosperity, commit to fairness and justice, and embrace an open and inclusive mindset.
The vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity reflects the broadest common aspiration of people worldwide for peace, development, and stability, and also embodies the most widely held consensus among nations, former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome said.
It underscores China's commitment to contributing to global peace and prosperity, offering a strategic framework that resonates with the international community's goals and aspirations for a better future, he added.
Dilma Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank and former Brazilian president, said that the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity provide a robust foundation for fostering mutual respect and development among nations, and contribute to addressing the common challenges faced by humanity.
CONTRIBUTING MORE TO GLOBAL PEACE, DEVELOPMENT
"We will continue to champion the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, work with all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind, and make new and greater contributions to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development," Xi said.
Of all the forces in the world, the Global South stands out with a strong momentum, playing a vital role in promoting human progress, Xi said, adding that standing at a new historical starting point, the Global South should be more open and more inclusive, and join hands together to take the lead in building a community with a shared future for humanity.
He called on the Global South to be the staunch force for peace, the core driving force for open development, the construction team of global governance, and the advocates for exchange among civilizations.
To better support Global South cooperation, Xi announced eight initiatives covering such areas as personnel training, youth exchanges, economic development, free trade, agriculture, digital economy and green ecology. Under the initiatives, a Global South research center will be established, and 1,000 scholarships under the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Scholarship of Excellence and 100,000 training opportunities to Global South countries will be provided in the coming five years.
These measures are expected to provide innovative solutions for global development and governance, and highlight the crucial role of developing nations in shaping a fairer and more equitable international system, Rousseff said.
In today's world, both South-South cooperation and South-North cooperation are crucial for ushering in a new era of multilateralism based on mutual benefits, equality, and respect, said Dominique de Villepin, former French prime minister. Upholding the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence has significant practical importance in promoting cooperation among the Global South countries, as well as cooperation between developed and developing countries.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the luncheon that the eight initiatives demonstrated China's unwavering commitment to solidarity and shared destiny with the Global South, and reflected China's firm resolve to promote the development and revitalization of the Global South.
China will actively collaborate with all parties to implement these initiatives to inject stronger impetus into the common development and unity of the Global South, Wang said.
Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nong Duc Manh; former Myanmar President U Thein Sein; former Brazilian President and President of the New Development Bank Dilma Rousseff; former South African President Petrus Kgalema Mothlanthe; former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome; former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa; former Guyanan President Donald Ramotar; former Slovenian President Danilo Turk; former Croatian President Ivo Josipovic; Igor Dodon, president of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova, also former Moldovan president; former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama; former Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema; former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin; former Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Lee Hae-chan; former Prime Minister of Egypt Essam Sharaf; and former Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Kubatbek Boronov attended the conference. ■
