After the end of the Cold War and at the dawn of the 21st century, China holds that it is imperative for mankind to establish a new security concept. History tells us that the old security concept based on military alliances and build-up of armaments will not help ensure global security, still less will it lead to a lasting world peace. Therefore, we have to cultivate a new security concept that meets the needs of the times and to explore new ways to safeguard world peace and security.

We believe that the core of such a new concept of security should be mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation. Security should be based on mutual trust and common interest. We should promote trust through dialogue, seek security through cooperation, respect each other's sovereignty, solve disputes through peaceful means and strive for common development. The establishment of a new security concept and a new just and fair international order is the only way to fundamentally promote a healthy development of the disarmament process and provide the guarantee for international peace and security. China maintains that this new security concept should include the following:

--The relations among nations should be established on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, namely, mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. These are the political basis and premise of global and regional security.

--In the economic field, all countries should strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, eliminate inequalities and discriminatory policies in economic and trade relations, gradually narrow the development gaps between countries and seek common prosperity. Such steps constitute the economic basis of global and regional security.

--All countries should promote mutual understanding and trust through dialogue and cooperation, and seek the settlement of differences and disputes among nations through peaceful means. These are the realistic ways to guarantee peace and security.