Fifty years ago, late Premier Zhou Enlai paid separate visits to India and Myanmar, and put forth the five principles that would shape China's foreign policy.

Now, as the country marks the anniversary of that step, those principles are more relevant than ever.

"The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have withstood the test of time," Premier Wen Jiabao told a celebration Monday to mark the occasion. "They have made a monumental contribution to the maintenance of peace and stability in Asia and the world over and the sound development of international relations." It was highlighted by speeches by leaders from China and India as well as congratulatory messages.

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.

China is not only a strong proponent but also a faithful practitioner of the Five Principles, which have been enshrined in the country's Constitution and served as the cornerstone of the nation's independent foreign policy of peace, Wen said.

The Five Principles are of tremendous relevance as a guide for action for world peace and common development.

"Peace and development remain the overriding themes of the times," Wen said. Meanwhile, "factors of uncertainty and instability in international relations are on the increase, as the various traditional and non-traditional securities are intertwined."

To carry forward the Five Principles to promote world peace and development, Wen said the Chinese Government is ready to work with other countries in five distinct areas.

The first is upholding the principle of sovereign equality, said the Premier.

"Sovereignty is the birthmark of any independent state, the crystallization of its national interests and the best safeguard of all it holds dear," he said.

While a diverse civilization is the hallmark of humanity and an important driving force behind human progress, Wen said every country should respect and maintain diversity around the world.

The third area is promoting common development of the world's economies on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, Wen said.

"In applying the Five Principles to the economic realm, we should respect the right of countries to make independent economic decisions, their equal right to participate in competition on a level playing field, and their access to mutual benefit and economic success."

Fourth, maintaining peace and security through dialogue and cooperation.

"The Cold War mentality must be done away with in favor of a new security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation."

Wen said terrorism is a common enemy to all mankind and it is essential to remove the root causes while standing on guard against and striking hard on terrorism in all forms.

Fifth, the United Nations and other mutual mechanisms should get full scope for the role they play, Wen said.

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

At the same time, it is important to let the World Trade Organization, the World Bank and other multilateral world bodies and regional cooperation mechanisms play an active role to upgrade the performance of international and regional cooperation, he added.

The creation of the Five Principles, initiated jointly by China and India half a century ago, was a pioneering effort in history of international relations in the 20th-century. The principles marked an important contribution to peace and development, said President Hu Jintao in a congratulatory message to his Indian counterpart, Abdul Kalam.

Jointly developing and deepening the long-term partnership between China and India on the Five Principles conforms to the fundamental interests of the two peoples and will continuously contribute to peace, stability and development in Asia and the world, he stressed.

"China will firmly pursue the independent foreign policy of peace, forge and develop friendships and partnerships with neighbors and remain committed to good-neighborly and friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation with surrounding countries," Hu said.

For his part, Kalam said the Five Principles have not only become an integral part of the two nations' foreign policies, but also been widely accepted by the international community.

He said the Five Principles have become part of the guiding principles of Indian-Chinese ties and will continue to play an important role in the future.

"On this historic occasion, I wish to reiterate that in the years to come, we shall endeavour to maintain, and indeed accelerate the steady growth of friendship and cooperation between our two countries," Kalam stated in the message.

(China Daily June 29, 2004)