China will never seek hegemony, said Chinese premier

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao gestures as he arrives for the 50th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Monday, June 28, 2004. (AP photo)

China will never threaten any one, pursue expansion or seek hegemony, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Monday in Beijing.

Wen made the remarks when addressing a conference commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

He said that China will always put development on the top of its government's agenda. A successful running of China is in itself a major contribution to peace and development of humanity.

He added that China will continue to pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, and dedicate itself to developing friendly relations and cooperation with all countries.

China will firmly safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, tolerating no one to interfere in its internal affairs.

At the same time, the country will respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of others, he noted.

China will open still wider to the outside world on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, while engaging in economic and technical cooperation with other countries with greater scope and depth, he said.

China will continue to improve and develop its relations with the developed countries, expand the areas of common interests and properly handle the differences with them, he noted.

Wen said that China will build good-neighborly relationships and partnerships and work still harder in implementing the policy of creating an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood.

China will continue to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation with the vast number of developing countries, and actively explore ways for effective South-South cooperation under the new circumstances, he said.

China will vigorously participate in multilateral diplomacy and play a constructive part at the United Nations and other international and regional organizations, he said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivers a speech during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing June 28, 2004. (Reuters photo)

Five Principles important to world peace, security

Wen said fact shows that the old security concept centered around military alliances and arms build-ups did poorly to keep the world safe. Resorting to use or threat of force at every turn can only impede, even jeopardize, peace and tranquility in the world.

The Cold War mentality must be done away with in favor of a new security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation, he said. Security should be secured through dialog and stability through cooperation.

According to him, terrorism is common enemy to all mankind. While standing on guard against and striking hard on terrorism in all forms and manifestations, it is essential to remove the root causes that breed the menace.

With respect to weapons proliferation, drug trafficking, trans-boundary crimes and other non-traditional security threats, it is necessary to take on them with strengthened international cooperation consistent with the principles of international law, he said.

In the face of such global concerns as HIV/AIDS, environmental degradation and other threats to mankind's health and survival, the Chinese premier said, it is necessary to step up a globalized approach bearing in mind a keen sense of responsibility for the welfare of future generations.

Five Principles an important embodiment of UN Charter

Wen said that the United Nations is the most universal, most representative and most authoritative international organization in today's world. The UN Charter, which crystallized mankind's political wisdom in the 20th century, finds the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence an important embodiment of its spirit.

He said that promoting world peace and common development under the new international circumstances demands that the UN's authority be strengthened rather than weakened.

The UN should act in accordance with the Five Principles and its own Charter, and play its constructive role more vigorously in resolving international disputes, preserving peace, and providing humanitarian assistance, he said.

He added that the UN agencies should also undergo necessary and reasonable reforms. At the same time, it is important to let the WTO, the World Bank and other multilateral world bodies as well as regional cooperation mechanisms to play an active role in order to upgrade the performance of international and regional cooperation.

The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence 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.