|
| New life to Five Principles |
| | www.chinaview.cn 2004-06-15 21:27:48 |
BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Half
a century after their initiation, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, a guiding norm of
international relations, have not only weathered the vicissitudes of the
international situation but display ever stronger vitality in the modern world,
observers say.
"In recent years, there have been new
developments in the international arena both in theory and practice on
establishing a new international order under the new situation," said Former
Chinese Vice-Premier Qian Qichen at a seminar sponsored by the Chinese People's
Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) from June 14 to 15 to mark the 50th
anniversary of the Five Principles.
"People have come to the
same conclusion through practice and deliberation that in today's diversified
world, the Five Principles still have wide application as the fundamental theory
guiding international relations," Qian said.
Qian's
remarks were echoed by participants of the international seminar, a gathering of
over 100 politicians, scholars and experts from China and 12 other countries
across the world.
The Five Principles of
Peaceful Coexistence, which are mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial
integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal
affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence, were initiated
by China, India and Myanmar in 1954. Now after 50 years,it has been gradually
and universally accepted by the
international community as the fundamental
norm guiding international relations.
"Many changes have
taken place in the past 50 years ...but the new rules as conceived by the true
envisioners in 1954 still bear realistic significance in today's south-north
relations," said Amara Essy, former secretary-general of the Organization of
African Unity.
Former US Secretary of State George P. Shultz
said these principles have continuing relevance to this day, even as the context
of world events in the ensuing fifty years has changed.
"There has never been a greater need to revive the spirit of the Five
Principles," said Former Australian Prime Minister Robert James Lee
Hawke.
Delegates to the seminar also exchanged their views
on the challenge faced by the Five Principles in present time, noting that under
the new situation, new dimensions to the principles should be added according to
the characteristics of the times.
Song Mingjiang,
president of the China Institute of International Studies, said not all
countries were willing to respect certain principles of the Five Principles, and
that's why
the Five Principles had to meet challenges
nowadays.
As to how to cope with the challenges, CPIFA President Lu Qiutian said the basic spirit and principles of the Five Principles should be insisted on, and meanwhile, the Five Principles should be developed further according to new situation.Enditem |
|
|
Breaking
News