Delegates from developing countries to the international seminar on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence called in Beijing Tuesday for further upholding the Five Principles.

At the seminar sponsored by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Five Principles, David Abel, former minister of Myanmar cabinet, said even though the Cold War had ended, the world nowadays is still far from being a place where people can live in peace and the international political climate is uncertain.

Under the circumstances, the validity and relevance of the principles cannot be denied, and indeed, the present situation reinforces the need to uphold the time-tested principles in international relations, Abel said.

"The Five Principles must be seen as beacons lighting the way forward for interstate relations in the new millennium", he added.

Nana S. Sutresna, advisor to Indonesian president, said the Five Principles have been a significant force for peace and for the management of actual and potential conflicts in the Asian region.

The Five Principles have withstood the test of time, and will remain the ever-reliable guidelines for equal and mutually beneficial relations between nations big and small, wealthy and poor, powerful and weak, he said.

"The Five Principles will never fail us if we do not fail them," he added.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo said the Five Principles will guide us to build a more prosperous and harmonious world in the new century with their strong vitality.

The Five Principles, initiated by China, India and Myanmar in 1954, include mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence.

(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2004)