China, Russia vow to strengthen UN's central role
( 2003-05-28 14:25 ) (8)

China and Russia on Tuesday pledged efforts to strengthen the central role of the United Nations and said crises and conflicts should be settled peacefully and global and regional issues resolved in a multilateral way on the basis of universally accepted international norms.

A joint declaration, signed by visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, said the United Nations has played an irreplaceable role in preserving world peace and promoting common development.

It is of utmost importance to observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter under the new international situation, and both sides are determined to continue their efforts to strengthen the UN system, the declaration said.

Joint efforts should be made to establish a universal system with the United Nations at the core to meet new challenges and threats, and ensure international stability, security and predictable development, it said.

The system, which must be based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and other universally accepted norms of international laws, should be in keeping with the vital interests of every country so as to ensure sustainable social and economic development and stability, and conform to the principle of indivisibility of international security, said the declaration.