Jiang told Annan that China's National People's Congress, the nation's top legislature, is deliberating the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which China signed in 1997.

The Chinese Government has conducted in-depth research and preparation concerning the covenant, in hope that it will be passed and take effect in China at an early date, said Jiang.

According to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Annan expressed his support for China's strategy to develop its western regions. He hoped the UN would enhance co-operation with China, said the spokesman.

Also Thursday, Jiang and Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato agreed to further develop bilateral ties during their meeting, said the spokesman.

Jiang said on Wednesday that leaders of China and Japan should "frankly'' exchange their views so that differences can be resolved.

And in a meeting with South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, Jiang expressed China's willingness to continue supporting reunification of the Korean Peninsula.

Jiang made the first remark when meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.

"The leaders of our two countries should stand high and take into consideration the general development of the bilateral relations," said Jiang.

Jiang said good Sino-Japanese ties are crucial to Asia's vitality.

Sino-Japanese relations, though improved since their normalization in 1972, have stalled at times by Japanese rightists' denial of Japanese atrocities during its the country's invasion to China between 1937 and 1945. Japan's intent to develop a Theatre Missile Defence system with the United States has also soured relations.

Mori, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, acknowledged steady progress since the normalization of ties.

This is Mori's first meeting with Jiang since he took office in April to replace debilitated Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi.

Meeting with the Republic of Korea (ROK) leader, Jiang was quoted as saying that "in the future, China will support any actions that will ease tension on the peninsula and be conducive to its peaceful reunification."

Kim thanked China for its support, which he said contributed to the historic summit between the ROK and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in June.

Kim said the two sides will continue working to reduce tension, consult each other on economic co-operation and do cultural exchanges.

In addition, the presidents of China and Russia on Wednesday reiterated their commitment to furthering the development of bilateral relations.

When meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, President Jiang Zemin stressed that co-ordinative ties between China and Russia have a great impact on the world situation.

The development of neighbourly relations between China and Russia is not only to the benefit of both countries but also conducive to world stability, said Putin, adding that his government attaches great importance to the bilateral ties.

Putin noted that the stance shared by China and Russia on international weapons non-proliferation and disarmament has already yielded positive results, and pledged that Russia will continue to co-ordinate with China in taking actions.

During Putin's July visit to China, the two nations issued a joint statement voicing their opposition to the US plan to deploy the National Missile Defence (NMD) system and their support to the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty.

US President Bill Clinton announced during a speech last week that he would defer the deployment of the NMD system and leave the issue to the next US president.

According to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Putin also reiterated Russia's opposition to Taiwan's re-entry into the United Nations.

The two presidents agreed that their opinions on the role of the UN have a lot in common, as do the two countries' views on the promotion of a new world order and multi-polarization, according to the spokesman.

Wednesday's meeting was the third between Putin and Jiang this year, following the "Shanghai Five" summit and Putin's state visit to China in July.

(China Daily)