Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao spelt out a five-point proposal for carrying forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in the promotion of peace and development during a meeting to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the principles in Beijing Monday.

The proposal includes:

l Firmly upholding the principle of sovereign equality;

l  Respecting and maintaining the diversity of world's civilizations;

l Promoting common development of the world's economies on the basis of equality and mutual benefit;

l Maintaining peace and security through dialog and cooperation; and

l Giving full scope to the important role of the United Nations and other multilateral mechanisms.

China will never threaten any one, pursue expansion or seek hegemony, said Wen, adding that China will always put development on the top of its government's agenda. A successful running of China is in itself a major contribution to peace and development of humanity.

He said that China will continue to pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, and dedicate itself to developing friendly relations and cooperation with all countries.

China will firmly safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, tolerating no one to interfere in its internal affairs. At the same time, the country will respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of others, he noted.

China will open still wider to the outside world on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, while engaging in economic and technical cooperation with other countries with greater scope and depth, he said.

China will continue to improve and develop its relations with the developed countries, expand the areas of common interests and properly handle the differences with them, he noted.

Wen said that China will build good-neighborly relationships and partnerships and work still harder in implementing the policy of creating an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood.

The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, first put forward by China, India and Myanmar 50 years ago, 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.

(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2004)