Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen said Sunday that China is willing to work with Secretary-General Kofi Annan of the United Nations to further strengthen the role of UN in the new century.
Qian made the remarks in a meeting with Annan, who is visiting China at the invitation of the Chinese government. Qian said that Annan has made unremitting efforts to reinforce the function of UN and promote peace and development in the world since he became the secretary-general four years ago.
He reassured Annan that the Chinese government will continue to work with him to better position UN in realizing peace and development, two tasks that the developing countries are mostly concerned about.
The vice premier said the world is undergoing important and profound changes, adding that the overall international situation is moving toward detente, yet regional conflicts still exist.
World peace is far from being realized and the problem of development has not been solved, he said.
Many developing countries have been marginalized by economic globalization and have met with more rigid challenges on their road of development, Qian noted. Human beings have encountered more and more global and regional problems, said Qian, stressing that all these problems will have to be solved through international cooperation.
The role of UN, the most representative inter-governmental organization, is irreplaceable in this regard, Qian stated.
He said that the UN millennium summit last year was a success and the documents passed at the summit will lay a solid foundation for the organization's future work.
Qian said he believes the UN will certainly carry out those documents.
Annan thanked the Chinese government for its consistent support to the UN and expressed his appreciation for China's constructive role in international affairs.
Annan said that UN member countries reaffirmed their support to the organization at the millennium summit and stated their determination of strengthening the role of UN, adding that it will be important to the organization.
Annan said that he believes China will continue to support the UN as always in the new century.
Qian also briefed Annan on the Chinese government's position on the Taiwan issue.
(Xinhua 01/21/2001)
