By Raja Asghar
ISLAMABAD, April 10 (Reuters) - The number-two man in China's political hierarchy, Li Peng, said on Saturday many events of the past year had shown ``a new manifestation of hegemonism'' in the world and called for respect for all nations.
In a speech to Pakistani dignitaries, the chairman of China's National People's Congress (parliament) complained of ``financial plunder'' by the West and called for a new international political and economic order.
Li, who was China's prime minister for a decade until last year, said that while the international situation continued to move towards relaxation, new crises in some areas had escalated to armed conflicts and wars.
``Many events in the past year show that there is a new manifestation of hegemonism and power politics,'' he said. ``There have emerged, one after another, instances of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries on certain excuses in contravention of laws governing international relations.''
He did not name any country, but in an apparent reference to the United States now being the sole superpower, he said ``multipolarity is better than mono-polarity.''
``World affairs must not be dictated by one single country or a handful of countries. All countries, big or small, rich or poor, strong or weak, are equal members in the big international family, and all should be respected.''
Li said developing countries facing the risks of economic globalisation as well as the opportunities this offered.
``It should be noticed that developed countries of the West occupy a dominant position in the process of economic globalisation,'' he said.
``The 'financial liberalisation' policy they pursue greatly facilitates the financial plunder carried out everywhere by means of short-term speculative investment of the West, and becomes something that triggers off crises.
``At the same time, developing countries are faced with more and more difficulties in the international trading system characterised by exchange at unequal value, thus resulting in an ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor in the world.''
The international community should aim for a new political and economic order that was ``peaceful, stable, just and equitable'' as well a new international financial system, he added.
Li, whose country has had close ties with Pakistan since the early 1960s, welcomed recent moves by Pakistani and Indian leaders to ease tensions between them.
``We sincerely hope that South Asian countries will live in harmony and enjoy long-term stability and economic development,'' he said. ``Along with the South Asian countries, China is ready to write a new chapter of friendly relations and cooperation.''