Southern countries should reform global governance to make it more effective and balanced: Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers his speech during a conference marking the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 28, 2024. | Photo credit: AP

Highlighting the importance of the Global South, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that the Global South should actively participate in the reform and development of the global governance system and make the global governance architecture more balanced and efficient.

China's determination to stick to the path of peaceful development will not change. We will never take the well-trodden path of colonial plunder, nor the wrong path of seeking hegemony when we become strong. We will stick to the right path of peaceful development, Xi said, in a thinly veiled attack on the West.

He made the comments at an event marking the 70th anniversary of the five principles of peaceful coexistence.

Xi said that during the Cold War, newly independent countries aspired to safeguard their sovereignty and develop their national economies and that the five principles were included in the China-India and China-Myanmar Joint Declarations, which jointly called for make them fundamental norms for state-to-state relations.

The five principles are mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.

The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence originated in Asia but quickly emerged on the world stage… The Non-Aligned Movement that emerged in the 1960s adopted the Five Principles as its guiding principles. Over the past 70 years, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have transcended time and space and overcome distance, demonstrating strong resilience and eternal relevance. They have become open, inclusive and universally applicable fundamental norms for international relations and core principles of international law, he added.

Xi said that among all the forces in the world, the Global South stands out with its strong momentum and plays a vital role in promoting human progress. Standing at a new historical starting point, the Global South should be more open and inclusive, and join hands to take the lead in building a community with a shared future for mankind, he said.

“Together, we must be an unwavering force for peace. We must promote the peaceful settlement of international disputes and participate constructively in the political settlement of hot international and regional issues. Together, we must be the main driving force for inclusive development. We must restore development to the central position of the international agenda, revitalize global partnerships for development, and deepen South-South cooperation and North-South dialogue,” he added.

Xi said countries should jointly uphold the golden rule of non-interference and jointly oppose acts aimed at imposing their will on others, stirring up confrontation between blocs, creating small circles and forcing the others to choose their side.

The Chinese president said that in the face of new challenges, the authority and central role of the United Nations can only be strengthened rather than weakened. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter are never outdated and are becoming more and more important. China advocates a vision of global governance based on in-depth consultation and common contribution for shared benefit, and believes in true multilateralism. Our goal is that international rules should be established and respected by all countries. Global affairs should be handled through in-depth consultation, not dictated by those with more power, he said.

(The correspondent is in China at the invitation of the China Public Diplomacy Association)