Source: China Daily

10-12-2004 17:09

Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan delivers a speech in Tsinghua University in Beijing October 11, 2004. Annan arrived in Shanghai on Oct. 9, kicking off his five-day official visit to China as guest of the Chinese government. [Xinhua]

Visiting United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Monday that the UN would work with China to maintain world peace and security and promote co-operation and development.

Annan made these remarks during talks with Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

Li said the Chinese Government would continue to support the central role of the UN in international affairs.

Annan and Li discussed the situation in Iraq, Sudan and Afghanistan, reform of the United Nations and the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue as well as China's participation in UN peacekeeping missions.

Annan is in Beijing on a five-day official visit, which started on Saturday. He will meet President Hu Jintao today.

He is also due to visit an eco-village and HIV/AIDS testing centre, and tour the Chinese peacekeepers' training centre at Langfang in North China's Hebei Province today.

China currently provides close to 1,000 military and police personnel for 12 UN peacekeeping operations.

Annan yesterday hailed the 25th anniversary of UN-China partnership as "a testimony to the strong partnerships the UN has forged in China."

He said the UN had not only established partnership with the Chinese Government but also with business and civil society in the nation.

He added the partnership also applied within the United Nations itself "so that many parts of the UN system now work together to place our collective expertise at the disposal of the Chinese people."