China’s “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence” call for a new world order

On June 28, China hosted an international conference in Beijing to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Experts at the conference praised the enduring significance of these principles in today’s turbulent world.

The conference was attended by around 600 participants, including former country leaders, representatives of international and regional organisations, diplomatic envoys from more than 100 countries, Chinese and foreign experts and scholars, and media and business representatives.

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

Experts in attendance emphasised that these principles offer valuable guidance for contemporary international relations and can help safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of countries worldwide, particularly developing nations.

For instance, the current trade wars among countries are “unnecessary” and detrimental to global governance. Against such a backdrop, China’s Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are like a solution that underscores the crying need for peace.

After 70 years, the principles have proven their vitality and have become a fundamental foundation and standard for international relations and law, helping to protect the rights of countries globally.

The principles have also played an active role in promoting peace and stability, shaping a fairer, more reasonable, and tolerant world economic-political order, and contributing to the peaceful resolution of disputes based on international law.

Peace and stability are the prerequisites for sustainable development and prosperity in the world today. As we navigate a complex geopolitical landscape, it is essential to uphold the five principles.

The Five Principles demonstrate that countries with different political systems can and must coexist without war. The principles remain a pillar of peace and the foundation for building a common destiny for humanity.

China’s Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and its plan to build a community with a shared future for mankind are closely aligned in their emphasis on respect for sovereignty, peaceful coexistence, mutual benefit, and cooperation.

These principles guide China’s approach to international relations and its vision for a collaborative and harmonious global community.

Indeed, both frameworks emphasise the importance of respecting national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, fostering a stable and respectful international environment.

The commitment to resolving disputes peacefully is a key component of both the Five Principles and the vision for a shared future, underscoring China’s preference for diplomacy over conflict.

Economic and social cooperation based on mutual benefit is central to both frameworks, reflecting China’s approach to building partnerships that are equitable and beneficial for all parties.

The Five Principles provide a historical answer to maintaining post-war peace and stability globally while achieving peaceful coexistence among nations.

China’s recent proposal to build a community with a shared future for mankind represents a contemporary answer to the significant question of what kind of world to build and how to build it.

The principles help to build a partnership in which countries respect each other and create consensus. This should be the guiding principle of contemporary international relations. They have become part of customary international law and are much more relevant with the rise of the Global South.

China’s Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are a set of diplomatic guidelines that were first formulated in the 1950s. These principles were created to guide China’s interactions with other countries, especially in the context of the newly emerging nations after World War II.

They were initially articulated in agreements between China and India in 1954 and have since been a foundation of China’s foreign policy.

The first principle is mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity which states that countries should respect each other’s sovereignty and the territorial boundaries, avoiding any interference in internal affairs.

Second is mutual non-aggression where nations should refrain from using force or the threat of force against each other.

Third is mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. States should not interfere in the domestic affairs of other countries.

Fourth is equality and mutual benefit, which states that countries should treat each other as equals and seek mutually beneficial outcomes in their interactions.

Fifth is peaceful coexistence where nations should strive to coexist peacefully, regardless of differences in their political systems, ideologies or social structures.

The post China’s “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence” call for a new world order first appeared on KBC.