23 April 1997
On the basis of the development of a strategic partnership of equality and mutual trust that is oriented towards the 21st century, the responsibility towards the international community and the common attitude towards the major international issues as permanent members of the U. N. Security Council, the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as the two "sides") hereby state as follows:
1. The two sides shall, in the spirit of partnership, strive to promote the multipolarization of the world and the establishment of a new international order. The two sides hold the view that international relations at the close of the 20th century have undergone profound changes characterized by the end of the Cold War and the disappearance of the bipolarity. The positive trend towards a multipolar world is accelerating; relations between major powers, including those between adversaries in the Cold War era, have undergone changes; organizations of regional economic cooperation have exhibited great vitality; the political, economic and cultural evolution in various countries has presented a scene of diversity, and the forces making for peace and broad-based international cooperation have grown in strength. It has become the common understanding of a growing number of countries to embrace mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit and reject hegemonism and power politics, to pursue dialogue and cooperation and avoid confrontation and conflict. The establishment of a just and equitable new international political and economic order based on peace and stability has become the pressing need of the times and the inevitable necessity of history.
2. Both sides maintain that mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, peaceful coexistence and other universally recognized principles of international law should serve as the basic norms governing state-to-state relations and the basis for the establishment of a new international order. Each country has the right to independently choose its road of development in light of its own national conditions and no other countries should interfere. Differences in social system, ideology and values must not become obstacles to the development of normal state-to-state relations. All countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community. No country should seek hegemony, practice power politics or monopolize international affairs. It is imperative to eliminate discriminatory policies and practices in economic relations and to strengthen and expand, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, exchanges and cooperation in the economic, trade, scientific, technological and cultural fields with a view to promoting common development and prosperity.
3. Both sides stand for the establishment of a new and universally applicable security concept, believing that the "Cold War mentality" must be abandoned and bloc politics opposed. The differences or disputes between states must be settled through peaceful means without resorting to the use or threat of force. Dialogue and consultation should be pursued to promote mutual understanding and build confidence and peace and security should be sought through coordination and cooperation at bilateral or multilateral level. Both sides are of the view that the Commonwealth of Independent States is an important factor making for stability and development in Eurasia and point out that the two Agreements signed by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on the Enhancement of Confidence in the Military Field Along the Border Areas and on the Mutual Reduction of Military Forces are of great significance in that they may serve as a new model for the achievement of regional peace, security and stability in the post-Cold War world. The two sides stand ready to promote the disarmament process while emphasizing the importance of the signing of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Both sides express concern over the attempt at enlarging and strengthening military blocs, because such a tendency may pose a threat to the security of certain countries and aggravate regional and global tension.
4. Both sides are of the view that the role of the U.N. and its Security Council should be strengthened and that the U.N. efforts in maintaining world peace and security merit a positive appraisal. Believing that the U.N., as the most representative and authoritative organization composed of sovereign states, has a world capacity that no other international organization can possibly replace, both sides are convinced that it ought to be allowed to play an important role in the establishment and maintenance of a new international order. The U.N. peacekeeping efforts should focus on the prevention of the occurrence and spread of conflicts. Peacekeeping operations can be undertaken only by the decision of the U.N. Security Council and the approval of the countries concerned, and in strict compliance with the Security Council mandate and its supervision. When deciding to impose sanctions in accordance with relevant provisions of the U.N. Charter, the Security Council should see to it that the losses caused by the measure as well as the losses it brings to third countries and adjacent areas be reduced to the minimum and that the sanctions be lessened or removed in due course in light of the implementation of the Security Council resolutions. The two sides express the readiness to step up their close cooperation with the U.N. and its specialized agencies towards greater efficiency of the organization. Both sides stand ready to keep up regular consultations on subjects relating to the work of the U.N. and coordinate their respective actions in this regard in light of circumstances.
5. Both sides underscore that the vast member of developing countries and the Non-Aligned Movement are important forces in promoting world multipolarization and building a new international order. Developing countries have enhanced their awareness of self-strengthening through unity, played a greater role in world politics and increased their share of the world economy. Their rise will give a strong boost to the historical process towards the establishment of a new international order. They are entitled to take a rightful place in the future new international order, participating, on the equal basis, in international affairs free from any discrimination.
6. The two sides point out with satisfaction that the establishment and expansion of the strategic partnership between China and Russia based on equality and trust and oriented towards the 21stcentury conforms to the global trend of development and international relations in the post-Cold War world, fully serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples and conduces to peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole. It constitutes an important practice towards the establishment of a new international order for the two countries, both permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, to forge a partnership that is characterized by good neighborliness and friendship, equality and trust, mutually-beneficial cooperation and common development, in strict compliance with the principles of international law and formulation of a new type of long-term state-to-state relationship not directed against any third country. The two sides express readiness to vigorously employ and strengthen the existing system of summit meetings and high-level contacts whereby their heads of state and government and foreign ministers meet regularly to exchange views on bilateral relations and major international issues. With a sense of historical responsibility for world peace, development and the future of mankind, the tow sides pledge their closer coordination and cooperation in international affairs, and their commitment to harmonious coexistence and cooperation on an equal footing with all other countries with a view to contributing their due share to a stronger lasting peace in the world and common progress of mankind.
7. With a new era quickly approaching, under what kind of an international order will people live in the next century? This question has been put before the people of all countries in all its seriousness. The two countries call on all other counties in the world to engage in active dialogue on the establishment of a just and equitable new international orders based on peace and stability and stand ready to discuss together all constructive proposals to this end. Monterey Institute of International Studies 2002Free downloading the modification of these materials are allowed as long as they are for educational purposes only and due credit is given to the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
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