A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Monday called on the international community to defend the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, highlighting its strength and vitality in today's world.
"The UN Charter arose from the ravages of World War II. It reflected humanity's profound retrospection on the two world wars and charted a grand blueprint whereby the people of this planet could work together to build a beautiful world," Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, told the Security Council.
He added that in today's world, the UN Charter remains a tower of strength with great vitality and relevance.
The 15-member UN body held a ministerial level open debate on the topic of "Respect for the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations as a key element for the maintenance of international peace and security."
The Chinese envoy noted that to firmly defend the purposes and principles of the Charter, the international community should work vigorously to make international relations more democratic and subject them to more effective rule of law.
"Some important principles enshrined in the charter, such as respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, peaceful settlement of international disputes, non-interference of internal affairs, are the cornerstone of modern international law and international relations," Liu stressed.
He also held that international cooperation in all dimensions should be enhanced.
"We must do away with all forms of cold war mentality and predilections for zero-sum game," he said, calling for embracing of new notions of win-win and forging global partnership at international and regional levels.
Highlighting tolerance, mutual learning and common development, Liu said "we must respect the diversity of civilizations and uphold openness and tolerance."
"We must help each other for mutual benefit so we can work together to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development effectively," Liu added.
Noting that 2016 is the first year for the implementation of the outcomes of the UN 70th anniversary summits and the 2030 agenda, he said this is "a pivotal opportunity" that the international community should seize to press forward in the noble cause of peace and development.
"China stands ready to work with the United Nations and its membership, continue to safeguard the international order and international system built around the purposes and principles of the charter, join hands to forge new international relations characterized by cooperation, to the benefit of all, build a community of common destiny with unity of purpose and make even greater contribution to the peace, development and progress of humankind," he said.
