Russia, China Call For New World Order

May 27, 2003

Moscow: Russian president Vladimir Putin has called for the creation of a new multi-polar world order based on the interests of all participants in international relations.

''The world can be and should be multipolar if we want it to be stable and predictable. The world order should be built on the basis of clear and facile international rules and international law,'' the Russian President said, in a press conference today, following summit-level talks with the Chinese Preident, ''RIA Novosti'' reported.

'' The new international political and economic order should bring peace, development and benefit to all people and nationalities regardless of the colour of their skin,'' Chinese President Hu Jintao said.

Both Presidents signed a joint declaration following their negotiations in the Kremlin. This is a political document reviewing the results of the implementation of the Treaty on Good-neighbourly Relations, Friendship and Co-operation between Russia and China signed on July 16, 2001, and also stating the position of the two countries on issues like Iraq and Korea.

Both countries have called for the settlement of the humanitarian situation in Iraq and the restoration of internal stability in the country a 'priority task.' ''The Iraqi crisis should be returned to the channel of political settlement within the UN framework.

The UN should be given the central role in the postwar settlement in Iraq. Russia and China are convinced that the proper settlement of the Iraqi problem, which is one of the most difficult problems facing the modern world, is only possible within the UN framework and on the basis of relevant resolutions of its Security Council,'' the Joint Declaration signed by the two leaders affirmed.

''The sides believe that it is necessary to guarantee Iraq's territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence, respect the will of the Iraqi people and its right to use the country's mineral resources,'' the declaration added.

Both Russia and China have stressed that the maintainance of peace and stability on the Korean peninsula is in the interests of all the countries in the region as well as the international community and called for political and diplomatic measures to resolve the crisis.

They have termed ''unacceptable'' the use of force or pressure in solving the problems of the Korean peninsula.

''The key to the solution to the Korean peninsula's problems is thepolitical will of all the parties involved and resolving the crisis by politico-diplomatic methods,'' the statement advocated.

''Russia and China advocate the enforcement of the Korean peninsula's nuclear-free status and the observance of the weapons of mass destruction nonproliferation regime there,'' the declaration stated, adding ''simultaneously, the security of North Korea must be guaranteed and favorable conditions for its socio-economic development must be created.

http://sify.com/news/international/fullstory.php?id=13158192