Xi: We will never seek hegemony
Print Edition
REGARDLESS of how strong it becomes, China will never seek hegemony, President Xi Jinping said yesterday.
“China does not subscribe to the notion that a country is bound to seek hegemony when it grows in strength. Hegemony or militarism is not in the genes of the Chinese. China will unswervingly pursue peaceful development because it is good for China, good for Asia and good for the world,” he said.
Xi was speaking at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing where he hosted the leaders of India and Myanmar at an event to mark 60 years of their agreeing a landmark treaty.
In 1954, China, India and Myanmar signed the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Those principles being: 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.
“The notion of dominating international affairs belongs to a different age, and such attempts are doomed to failure,” Xi told a 700-strong audience.
“Flexing military muscles reveals only a lack of moral ground or vision, rather than reflecting one’s strength. Security can be solid and enduring only if it is based on moral high ground and vision,” he said.
Countries should uphold sovereign equality and oppose any attempt to oust the legitimate government of a country through illegal means, he said.
Sovereignty is the most important feature of any independent state as well as the embodiment and safeguard of its national interests, the president said.
No infringement on the sovereignty or territorial integrity of a country is allowed, he said, adding that countries should respect each other’s core interests and key concerns.
“These are fundamental rules, which should not be cast aside or undermined at any time,” he said.
All countries, regardless of their size, strength or level of development, are equal members of the international community, and they are entitled to equal participation in international affairs, he said.
The internal affairs of a country should be managed by its own people.
“We should respect the right of a country to choose its own social system and model of development, and oppose attempts to oust the legitimate government of a country through illegal means, seeking self interests or imposing one’s own views,” he said.
The president called for common development, saying that all will benefit when everyone develops.
“Just as rising water lifts all boats, and more water in the tributaries make a wider river, all will benefit when everyone develops. When developing themselves, countries should work actively for common development of others so that the gains of development will reach more people in the world,” Xi said.
The sky, earth and world are big enough to allow the common development and prosperity of all, he said.
Some countries are getting richer while others are locked in poverty and underdevelopment, he said.
“Such a situation should not be allowed to continue,” he said.
He said nations should jointly uphold and develop an open global economy, promote strong, sustainable and balanced global growth as well as trade and investment liberalization and facilitation and uphold open regional cooperation.
Countries should oppose protectionism of all forms and any attempt or practice to hurt others’ interests or shift crisis to others, he said.
He also called on countries to enhance South-South cooperation and North-South dialogue, strengthen developing countries’ capacity for self-development, urged developed nations to shoulder more responsibility, and narrow the North-South gap.
“This will help build a more equal and more balanced global partnership for development and cement the foundation for achieving long-term and stable global growth,” the president said.
Xi also called on countries to promote win-win cooperation and reject the notion of zero-sum games and winner takes all.
“Cooperation generates strength while isolation leads to weakness,” he said.
“Win-win cooperation should be the basis policy goal of all countries in handling international affairs.”
It is a universal principle that applies to not only the economic field, but also political, security, cultural and other areas, he said.
Countries should align their interests with those of others, he said.
President Xi, Myanmar President Thein Sein and Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari also pledged to work together to preserve regional piece.
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