Beijing (VNA) – Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nong Duc Manh attended a conference marking the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in Beijing, China, on June 28.

Themed "Carrying forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind", the event attracted the participations of over 100 delegates and guests, including more than 20 former presidents, prime ministers and senior leaders of countries together with experts, scholars and members of friendship groups.

In his speech, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping said the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have set a historic benchmark for international relations and international rule of law. They fully conform with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, with the evolving trend of international relations of the times, and with the fundamental interests of all nations.

As the world and regional situation is facing challenges, nations need to uphold the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence as well as the principle of sovereign equality, cement the foundation of mutual respect, turn the vision for peace and security into reality, unite all forces to achieve prosperity, commit to fairness and justice, and embrace an open and inclusive mindset, he said.

Speaking at the event, Manh highly appreciated China's organisation of the celebration, emphasising that after 70 years of formation and application in international relations, the "Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence" have demonstrated its strong vitality and have become a standard and basic foundation of international relations and law, helping to protect the legitimate rights and interests of many countries in the world, especially developing nations.

The principles have also promoted an active role in strengthening the trend of peace and stability, building the world economic-political order in an increasingly fair, reasonable and tolerant direction, and contributing to peacefully solving disagreements and "hot issues" based on international law.

Manh affirmed that, with a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification, Vietnam supports and is ready to actively participate in initiatives of all parties, including China's global initiatives, for the common interests of mankind, peace and progress of the world's people, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, the "Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence", and international law.

Within the framework of the conference, forums discussing the value and the significance of the "Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence" were organised./.