Thank you, Mr. President, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Delegation, I would like to extend to you our cordial congratulations on your election as President of the 43rd session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organisation. I am confident that under your able leadership and with joint efforts of the delegations of member states, this session will achieve a complete success. My delegation will cooperate with you in promoting discussions on all subjects. Meanwhile, I wish to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to H.E. Ambassador Young-jin Choi, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea, for the excellent job he has done over the past year. I would also like to thank the Government of the Republic of Indonesia for hosting this session and for the warm welcome and hospitality that have been accorded to us, and to thank Dr. Kamil and his colleagues in the AALCO secretariat for the excellent preparations for this session. I would also like to avail myself of this opportunity to welcome the new member, the Republic of South Africa to the Organisation.

Mr. President,

The international situation now is undergoing complicated and profound changes. While peace and development remain the main themes of our time, there have emerged many new conflicts and some new problems. The international law system, which is underlain by the Charter of the United Nations, and the international order maintained by this system have met with unprecedented impacts and challenges. It turns out, however, that the contemporary international law and the international order maintained by it have not been undermined, neither is the United Nations marginalized. On the contrary, more importance has been attached to the United Nations and international law. The Basic Principles of international law, including the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, have been widely accepted by the international society, and are playing an increasingly important role in maintaining world peace and promoting common development.

Mr. President,

Those precious photos displayed outside the ballroom remind us that this year happens to be the fiftieth anniversary of the proposal by China, India and Myanmar of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, namely, mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful co-existence. Over the past five decades, the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence have been accepted by the international society at large. Being consonant with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter, the Five Principles constitute core and basis of contemporary international law, and have contributed greatly to peace and development of the international society. They have become the spiritual wealth of all humankind, thanks to the contribution by China, India and Myanmar, as well as the common effort by all the independence-cherishing and peace-loving countries in the world.

As Her Excellency, Madame President Megawati has mentioned, this year is the forty-ninth anniversary of the world-renowned Asian –African Conference. This beautiful country, the venue of the Bandung Conference, was where the Bandung Spirit was born, and was also very significant in the development of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence. The Ten Principles put forward in the Declaration on Promotion of World Peace and Cooperation adopted by the Conference embodied all the essence of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence. It was since this conference that the Five Principles became accepted by Asian and African countries, and gradually recognized by the whole world. My government, dedicated to carry forward the spirit of the Five Principles and contribute to a better future of humankind, will hold a commemoration in Beijing at the end of this month.

Today, we Asian and African countries gather in this country again to share our views in the forum of AALCO. I am certain that this session will not only provide guidance for the Member States in the practice of law, but also enable the AALCO to play a greater role in promoting development and codification of international law.

Mr. President,

AALCO is the only intergovernmental legal consultative body of the Asian and African region. It has, over the past years, been playing a positive role in enhancing cooperation on legal issues among Member States and contributed many useful proposals on the contemporary issues of international law. We appreciate the current efforts of AALCO to encourage more Asian and African countries to join the Organisation and the efforts in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of its work. In the new international situation, the Chinese delegation encourages AALCO to continue to enhance and expand cooperation with the UN and other related legal bodies to strengthen the important role of the UN in maintaining world peace and security and promoting development.

Mr. President,

The Chinese Government has always attached great importance to the AALCO. It has taken an active part in and rendered strong support for the work of AALCO, since its becoming a full member of the AALCC. I wish to reiterate that my Government will, as it has always done in the past, continue to support the AALCO and contribute to the strengthening of its role and broadening of its influence in world affairs.

Thank you, Mr. President.