JOHANNESBURG, March 18 (Xinhua) -- South Africa called for the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the United Nations (UN) Charter and a renewed commitment to multilateralism, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the UN Country Team Annual Retreat in Pretoria, Alvin Botes, deputy minister of international relations and cooperation, said the UN Charter remains the cornerstone of global governance and urged parties to resolve disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, judicial settlement or other peaceful means.

"Conflicts cannot be solved through military means alone," Botes said, warning against unilateral military actions and practices that bypass international law.

He expressed concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East, noting that the widening conflict, including unilateral and illegal military actions directed against Iran and the risk of further regional spillover, threatens the global economy, energy security, shipping routes and fragile diplomatic balances.

Multilateralism is a strategic necessity for countries of the Global South, Botes said, stressing that international law serves as a safeguard for sovereign equality and justice.

"Let us ensure that multilateralism does not retreat into procedural ritual and institutional self-preservation, but becomes more representative, more inclusive, more development-oriented and more responsive to the Global South," he added. ■