Xi Highlights Panchsheel as Solution to Modern Global Conflicts

BEIJING/DELHI: On Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, known in India as Panchsheel, as a means to resolve current global conflicts. These principles, which gained prominence through the Non-Aligned Movement, were highlighted by Xi as he aimed to strengthen China’s influence in the Global South amidst ongoing tensions with Western countries.

At a conference in Beijing marking the 70th anniversary of Panchsheel, Xi, 71, linked these principles to his new Global Security Initiative, which envisions a shared future for humanity. The Five Principles were first formally outlined in the Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between the Tibet region of China and India, signed on April 29, 1954, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

No Indian officials were reported to have attended the conference on Friday. However, the event saw participation from former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and several politicians and officials from countries with close ties to China.

The Five Principles are part of the legacy of former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his Chinese counterpart Zhou Enlai, who sought to resolve the complex boundary issues between their countries. Xi stated, “The Five Principles answered the call of the times and were a historic development. The Chinese leadership first specified these principles in their entirety, which include ‘mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity,’ ‘mutual non-aggression,’ ‘mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs,’ ’equality and mutual benefit,’ and ‘peaceful coexistence.’”

Xi noted that these principles were included in the joint statements between China-India and China-Myanmar, advocating for them to become basic norms for international relations. He recalled that the Five Principles, originating in Asia, quickly gained global recognition, particularly at the 1955 Bandung Conference attended by over 20 Asian and African countries.

The Non-Aligned Movement, which emerged in the 1960s, adopted the Five Principles as its guiding framework. Xi highlighted their historical significance and relevance in addressing today’s global conflicts, stating, “The Five Principles have set a historic benchmark for international relations and international rule of law.”