Chinese top legislator Li Peng Thursday called on the international community to strive for equality among all countries so as to create a rational and just international political and economic order.

"China has always held the view that all nations, big or small, rich or poor, weak or strong, should be equal members of the family of nations," said Li Peng, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China.

Li, in his address at the special meeting of the South African National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, said that it is simply unimaginable if the world of over 200 countries and six billion people should be dominated by one country or a group of countries.

"Nor would it be possible for all countries to adopt a single social system or a single economic model," he said.

Li said "a multi-polar world is after all better than a unipolar one, as it is conducive to world peace and stability."

"Ours is a world of diversity and complexity. Therefore, the people of all nations are equally entitled to choose whatever road they think best suits their national conditions and conforms to their fundamental interests, " said Li, who arrived here on Wednesday on a six-day official good-will visit.

In international relations, Li Peng said, all countries should strictly observe the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs, adding that all international disputes or regional conflicts should be settled in a just and rational manner by means of peaceful negotiations and equal consultations.

"There should be no use or threat of force in their settlement," he said.

The maintenance of peace, the pursuit of stability, the promotion of cooperation and the attainment of development have become the common aspiration of the people of all countries and represent an irresistible historical trend, Li said.

"Nevertheless, the reality at the turn of the century tells us that humanity is still confronted with new and severe challenges in its pursuit of peace and development. Destabilizing factors have increased markedly and the world is still far from being tranquil. Hegemonism and power politics still linger on in the international political, economic and security fields, and have in fact manifested themselves in new expressions," Li said.

This being said, the overall international situation is still moving towards relaxation and the world is further moving towards multi-polarity, he observed.