b) To guarantee and promote fundamental rights and freedoms of the citizens and the respect for the principles of the democratic State based on the rule of law; c) To defend and guarantee political democracy and participation of the people in the resolution of national problems; d) To guarantee the development of the economy and the progress of science and technology; e) To promote the building of a society based on social justice, by establishing material and spiritual welfare of the citizens; f) To protect the environment and to preserve natural resources; g) To assert and value the personality and the cultural heritage of the East Timorese people; h) To promote the establishment and the development of relations of friendship and co-operation among all Peoples and States; i) To promote the harmonious and integrated development of the sectors and regions and the fair distribution of the national product; j) To create, promote and guarantee the effective equality of opportunities between women and men. Section 7 (Universal Suffrage and multi-party system) 1. The people shall exercise the political power through universal, free, equal, direct, secret and periodic suffrage and through other forms laid down in the Constitution. 2. The State shall value the contribution of political parties for the organised expression of the popular will and for the democratic participation of the citizen in the governance of the country. Section 8 (International Relations) 1. On matters of international relations, the Democratic Republic of East Timor shall govern itself by the principles of national independence, the right of the Peoples to self-determination and independence, the permanent sovereignty of the peoples over their wealth and natural resources, the protection of human rights, the mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and equality among States and the non-interference in domestic affairs of other States.