"The big, strong and rich should not bully the small, weak and poor," Xi said at the General Debate of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly. "Big countries should treat small countries as equals, and take a right approach to justice and interests by putting justice before interests."He said the principle of sovereignty not only means that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries are inviolable and their internal affairs are not subjected to interference.
It also means that all countries' right to independently choose social systems and development paths should be upheld, and that all countries' endeavors to promote economic and social development and improve their people's lives should be respected, he added.
Xi urged to be committed to multilateralism and reject unilateralism. "We should adopt a new vision of seeking win-win outcomes for all, and reject the outdated mindset that one's gain means the other's loss or that the winner shall take all," he said. "Consultation is an important form of democracy, and it should also become an important means of exercising contemporary international governance."
Stating that disputes and differences should be resolved through dialogue and consultation, he called for forging a global partnership at both international and regional levels, and embrace a new approach to state-to-state relations, one that features dialogue rather than confrontation, and seeks partnership rather than alliance.
He explained that in the age of economic globalization, the security of all countries is interlinked and has impact on one another. "No country can maintain absolute security with its own effort, and no country can achieve stability out of other countries' instability. The law of the jungle leaves the weak at the mercy of the strong; it is not the way for countries to conduct their relations," he said. "Those who adopt the high-handed approach of using force will find that they are only lifting a rock to drop on their own feet."
The Chinese president stressed the need for abandoning Cold War mentality in all its manifestations, and foster a new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. He also proposed to give full play to the central role of the United Nations and its Security Council in ending conflicts and keeping peace, and adopt the dual approach of seeking peaceful solution to disputes and taking mandatory actions, so as to turn hostility into amity.
Related story
When the bully is the boss
