BEIJING, May 27 -- The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, the tenets governing relations between states, will continue to contribute to world peace and development, said China's Vice Foreign Minister on Tuesday, the 60th anniversary of the principles' creation.

The Five Principles have served as the "cornerstone" of China's independent foreign policy of peace during the past six decades, Liu Zhenmin told a colloquium organized to commemorate the anniversary. They have strong vitality and universal applicability, he said.

In 1954, China, India and Myanmar initiated the five principles, which stand for mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.

"We should uphold four core values enshrined in the Five Principles," Liu said.

The concept of sovereignty forms the principles' foundation. A country's domestic affairs should be determined by its people, whereas international affairs should be handled through consultation by people all over the world in a democratic manner, he told the colloquium.

According to Liu, the concept of peace represents the supreme value of the Five Principles. To maintain it, countries should uphold the spirit of international law based on consent, refrain from unilateral actions, and commit themselves to settling disputes through negotiations.

"Win-win progress is the ultimate objective of the Five Principles," Liu noted.

He added that to achieve this, nations need to engage in mutually beneficial international cooperation on the basis of equality.

The vice foreign minister said the intrinsic requirement of the Five Principles is the concept of justice.

"No country shall place itself above international law, apply international law selectively, or adopt double standards in the application of international law," he explained.

China will present itself as a firm defender of state sovereignty, a staunch upholder of international peace and security, an energetic promoter for economic and social cooperation and development, and an active builder for international order and rule of law, vowed Liu.