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Panchsheel principles still relevant: China
Chinese President Xi Jinping (third from right) and Premier Li Keqiang
(behind Mr. Xi) arrive with Myanmar President Thein Sein (right) and
Vice-President Hamid Ansari at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on
Saturday.
Quoting from one of Rabindra Nath Tagore’s verses on friendship, ‘... If
you think friendship can be won through war, spring will fade away
before your eyes’, President Xi Jinping on Friday reiterated the virtues
of good relations between neighbours, peace and cooperation and amity in the region as envisaged six decades ago in the Panchsheel
treaty among India, China and Myanmar. At the 60th commemoration of the
Panchsheel here, he asserted that China would follow the five
principles of Panchsheel even as it is ready to work with the West to
uphold world peace and development.
Without taking names, he frowned upon the practice of one state flexing
its muscles while “injustice and inequalities still exist in international
affairs.” In his address delivered at the Great Hall of the People,
located at the western edge of Tiananmen Square, he stressed the need to
revisit the five guiding principles of Panchsheel,
which, he said, had been endorsed by a host of international
organisations and instruments. The Chinese President said no country
should monopolise international affairs and with a word of caution
against countries that use the “law of the jungle” by which the “strong
bully the weak,” he called for strengthening South-South Cooperation and
bettering North-South dialogue.
Mr. Xi spoke of adhering to territorial integrity and sovereignty,
mutual non-aggression and non-interference in internal matters, and
peaceful co-existence — the basics of Panchsheel, and said these
continue to remain relevant and grow.“All good things must evolve,” he said, and asserting a country’s rights
over its foreign policy, he said no other state could be allowed to
dictate its foreign relations.
India reciprocated its commitment to Panchsheel with Vice-President
Hamid Ansari calling attention to the need for greater interaction
between the people of India and China in all fields for stronger bilateral relations.
“India believes that globalisation should transform the world into, as Mahatma Gandhi
had envisaged, ‘a federation of friendly, interdependent nations,’
without domination or exploitation. Panchsheel is the basis of such a
world order. We need to work together to develop a framework for
equitable globalisation, for genuine multilateralism, and for seeking
common and fair solutions for challenges that transcend national borders
and threaten humanity,” he said.
The Vice-President said there was a need for a new paradigm for global
action and Panchsheel could act as a catalyst to better coordinate
efforts, enhance mutual understanding, share developmental experiences
and tackle trans-national threats more effectively.
“We gather here today to reaffirm the timeless relevance of Panchsheel in establishing a peaceful, stable, prosperous and secure world.
As the co-originators of Panchsheel, it is our duty to revitalise our
friendly relations and to promote cooperation as the only way forward
towards the realisation of our common goals of progress and prosperity
for our peoples,” Mr. Ansari said.
Stood the test of time
President of Myanmar Thein Sein said the five principles had stood the test of time, matured and become part of the inter-state relations. “Myanmar is confident that the five principles will play a greater role in interstate relations,” President Sein said. He acknowledged the “significant role” played by China and India in helping the economy of Myanmar and said having consistently followed the Panchsheel directives, and a non-aligned foreign policy, his country would cherish friendly ties with all nations, especially its neighbours.
President of Myanmar Thein Sein said the five principles had stood the test of time, matured and become part of the inter-state relations. “Myanmar is confident that the five principles will play a greater role in interstate relations,” President Sein said. He acknowledged the “significant role” played by China and India in helping the economy of Myanmar and said having consistently followed the Panchsheel directives, and a non-aligned foreign policy, his country would cherish friendly ties with all nations, especially its neighbours.
(Courtesy: The Hindu dated 29th June 2014)
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