Beijing - Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his vision for an "equal and orderly" multipolar world in his speech at a conference in Beijing on Friday, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the "five principles of peaceful coexistence."
According to Philippines News Agency, Xi emphasized the need for sovereign equality among nations and advocated for a global system where no country is dominated by another. "We need to uphold the principle of sovereign equality," Xi stated, underscoring that the principles promote equal rights, opportunities, and norms for every country and reject the notions of the strong bullying the weak or the rich exploiting the poor. "An equal and orderly multipolar world means every country can find its place in a multipolar system and play its due role pursuant to international law, so that the process of multipolarization is stable and constructive on the whole," he added.
China's foreign policy is founded on these principles, which include mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual nonaggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. These were first articulated by former Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai during the 1950s amidst border discussions with India.
In his speech, Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to peaceful development and opposed any form of colonial exploitation or hegemonic behavior as the country grows stronger. "We will never take the trodden path of colonial plundering, or the wrong path of seeking hegemony when one becomes strong," he asserted, calling on nations to base their interactions on equality, mutual respect, and trust.
With the Chinese Communist Party's policy-making convention approaching next month, Xi announced plans for deepening reforms and expanding institutional openness. "We will build a business environment that is more solidly based on market and rule of law and is up to international standards," he said, criticizing policies that isolate economies and disrupt industrial and supply chains.
Addressing the Global South, Xi encouraged these nations to be more open and inclusive, aiming to collectively foster global peace. He also announced several initiatives to enhance cooperation with these countries, including the establishment of a Global South research center, scholarships, training opportunities, and a youth leaders' program, emphasizing the shared goal of peace and security in these challenging times.