The Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, which embody peace, development and cooperation, are consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said here Monday.

Speaking to world leaders gathering here for the annual high-level UN debate, Li Zhaoxing said that as an initiator, China will continue to champion the principles and join all the people in the world in advancing the lofty cause of peace, development and cooperation.

"This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Five Principles ofPeaceful Co-existence," he said. "As the basic guidance for state-to-state relations, the Five Principles have withstood the test ofhalf a century and remained an irrefutable truth."

The principles of mutual respect, non-aggression, according to the foreign minister, provide the right guidance for the establishment and development of relations between countries with same or different social systems.

They also point to the correct path toward peaceful settlement of left-over issues between countries and international disputes, firmly defend the interests of the developing countries and facilitate the improvement and growth of North-South relations.

"The Five Principles present some important ideas underpinning the establishment of a fair and equitable new international order," he concluded.

Source:Xinhua