Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed in Moscow on July 1 a joint statement on a new world order in the 21st century. This is another statement by the two countries on how to establish a new world order since their joint statement on world multi-polarization and the establishment of new international order in 1997. It demonstrates the responsibilities for the world's justice, security, stability, development and prosperity taken on by China and Russia as two big countries and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council,

The development of human society is a process of constant blending and progress. As civilization advances and science and technology develop, originally scattered countries, continents and regions are being closely tied together to form, what is commonly recognized today, a "global village". To jointly seek security and development for this "big village" has become the common responsibility of all the "villagers".

Since the founding of the UN in last century, the international community has averted the occurrence of a new world war. However, numerous changes have taken place in the world during the past 60 years. Some political, economic and security orders established in the past need reforms to keep pace with the times. In particular, the world order formed since the 1990s provides conditions for certain countries to practice "unilateralism"; various kinds of terrorism, extremism, weapons of massive destruction as well as international crimes have constituted new challenges to the world security. The vast numbers of developing countries are seeking development, which, as they are eagerly expecting, can be achieved through reforming the existing unreasonable world order. How to establish a new world order in the 21st century has become a hot topic across the world.

Proceeding from new security outlook and development outlook of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, collaboration, respect for diversified cultures, seeking common development and creating win-win and multi-win results, China and Russia put forward the principled position and basic concept on how to establish new international political, economic and security orders, aiming to push forward the UN reform together with the other countries and make it more representative, more effective in maintaining world peace and promoting development of countries around the world.

With their bilateral relations from being abnormal to normal, from good-neighborliness to constantly deepening strategic mutual trust, China and Russia demonstrate to the world that as long as the outdated "cold war" way of thinking featuring confrontation be abandoned, as long as the new concept featuring "consultation and cooperation" is accepted, relations, whether bilateral or multi-lateral, whether regional or global, will advance in a direction favorable to peace and development.

The concept of establishing international relations based on strength and with the force as the means is already obsolete. The era during which the interests of a minority of countries or country blocks are maintained at the cost of the security concern of other countries' should belong to the past. Battles for global or regional hegemony should stop. The new era requires new ways of thinking, new principles and new orders. China and Russia jointly shape their images of responsible big nations through their own acts and deeds. Countries in the world, particularly big ones, should heed the steps of the times and the voice of the world, make efforts with courage and resolution to establish a new world order that is more just, more reasonable, more democratic and more efficient.

This is an article carried on the front page of People's Daily Overseas Edition on July 4 and translated by People's Daily Online