Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Saturday multilateralism is an effective way to deal with common challenges for humanity, while unilateralism proves to be not popular.

"China supports multilateralism and is committed to multilateral cooperation," said Li said at a press conference during the annual session of China's national legislature.

Multilateralism is consistent with the spirit and purposes of the United Nations Charter.

"The reason the United Nations was founded and UN Charter was written is that the future matters in the world can not be dictated by one single country or a group of countries," he said.

The matters should be discussed by countries across the world, particularly by members of the United Nations, to find a solution, which is what the United Nations is all about, he added.

Li said multilateralism is an important means to resolve international disputes, and it is forceful promotion and guarantee for the benign development of globalization.

"It is also the best way to promote a democratic and law-based international relationship."

In the area of peace, China, India, Myanmar and other Asian countries put forward the Five-Principle of Peaceful Co-existence in their bids to promote peace in 1950s, which Li described as an outstanding contribution by Asian countries and Asian culture to the development of international relations in the right direction.

In the area of development, he said, China is the first country to formulate a country action plan on sustainable development.

(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2004)