UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong on Monday called for efforts to defend the post-war international order.

At an open debate of the UN Security Council on leadership for peace, Fu said militarism and fascism once brought unprecedented catastrophes to humanity. Any erroneous remarks and acts to whitewash or overturn the history of aggression challenge the bottom line of human conscience and undermine the hard-won peace.

"We must uphold a correct view of the history of World War II, safeguard the victorious outcomes of World War II, and defend the post-war international order," he said. "We must adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold the sovereign equality of all states, large and small, oppose unilateralism, hegemonism, and power politics, advance the democratization of international relations, and enhance the representation and voice of developing countries in international affairs."

Fu called for commitment to political settlement as an effective pathway to peace.

Peace is achieved not through force, but through negotiations. Any conflict is to be ended at the negotiating table, he said.

"In addressing conflicts and disputes, we must promote dialogue for peace, encourage consultation and negotiation, and help all parties build mutual trust, manage differences, and forge consensus. We must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and accommodate the legitimate concerns of all parties," he said.

Major countries, in particular, should demonstrate commitment and play a constructive role, refrain from double standards or imposing their will on others, and still less, avoid fueling conflicts for narrow self-interests, he added.

Fu called for efforts to uphold multilateralism and strengthen international synergy in safeguarding peace.

The international system with the United Nations at its core has underpinned global peace and development. The more uncertain the future, the greater the need to practice true multilateralism, uphold the role and authority of the United Nations, and ensure that the Security Council fulfills its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, said Fu.

He also stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of conflicts and wars through development.

"We should uphold the concept of development as a driver of peace, support conflict-affected countries in enhancing their self-driven development capacity ... so as to pursue development paths suited to their national conditions and eliminate the breeding ground for violence," he said.

At China's initiative, the Group of Friends of Global Governance was officially established recently to uphold multilateralism, jointly address global challenges, and promote a more just and equitable global governance system. "The Group is an open and inclusive platform, and we welcome more like-minded partners to join," he said.

Traditional Chinese culture has long upheld the values of peace as paramount and harmonious coexistence. For thousands of years, peace has been in the blood of the Chinese nation and the DNA of the Chinese people. China will continue to work with all countries to actively promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity and contribute to the cause of world peace and development, he said. Enditem