Sovereign equality is a cornerstone of modern international relations, said Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) on Wednesday.
Sun made the remarks while delivering a joint statement on behalf of the Group of Friends of Global Governance at the Sixth Committee of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly.
He said the international order is once again facing turbulence and instability, with regional conflicts continuing to flare up, unilateralism and power politics on the rise, and a global arms race accelerating at growing risks.
The rule of law at the international level is under severe pressure, posing a destructive risk to global peace and security, Sun said.
Against this backdrop, Sun put forward four proposals: upholding the authority of the UN charter and the international rule of law, upholding sovereign equality and ensuring the equal and uniform application of international rules, upholding the peaceful settlement of disputes and opposing the use of force in international relations, and strengthening governance in new frontiers to meet the needs of the times.
"Sovereign equality is a cornerstone of modern international relations. The sovereignty and dignity of all countries, large or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, must be respected. Equal and uniform application of international rules is an essential requirement of sovereign equality. All states enjoy equal rights and bear equal obligations under international law. We firmly reject double standards and the selective application," said Sun.
Sovereign equality cornerstone of int'l relations: Chinese envoy
