China supports the United Nations in playing an active role in helping post-conflict nations to establish and safeguard justice and rule of law, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Wednesday.

"Currently, battered social order, shattered rule of law and absence of protection of the rights of civilians, women and children in particular, are commonplace in areas of conflicts," Li said in a speech at a Security Council ministerial meeting.

He noted that to guarantee an early restoration of the judicial system and rule of law in order to uphold justice and protect human rights has thus become a necessary condition for post-conflict stability and development.

"To help the parties concerned establish and safeguard justice and rule of law, therefore, should be given earnest attention in the course of UN peacekeeping operations and post-conflict reconstruction," he stressed.

"China supports the United Nations in playing an active role in accordance with the needs and actual conditions of the countries concerned," he added.

In addition to justice and rule of law, Li pointed out that a broadly representative government should be established as soon as possible to help bring about national reconciliation and ensure a harmonious coexistence of all ethnic groups.

Meanwhile, he said, a sound security environment should be created expeditiously to ensure an orderly progress of reconstruction.

Li called for the international community to tackle the root causes for conflicts -- poverty and backwardness -- in order to ensure a lasting peace in post-conflict areas.

"The end of a conflict does not necessarily mean the arrival of peace. Causes of conflicts differ, but more often than not they have a great deal to do with poverty and backwardness," he said.

"Without development, justice and rule of law are but mirages. There is quite a long distance to move from war to stability and from anarchy to rule of law," Li emphasized. "We strongly urge the international community to accord development the key position it deserves in peace building."

Li also stressed the importance of rule of law in handling international relations.

"The answer to bringing about a world of peace, stability, justice and rule of law lies solely in closer international cooperation, multilateral approach and democracy and rule of law in international relations," he said.

"The UN Charter and other norms governing international relations must be respected and maintained in earnest," he continued. "As a responsible member of the great international family, each country should take on the challenges it faces by acting within the framework of international institutions and in accordance with international law."

Li's counterparts from other Security Council member states also took the floor to express their views on the UN role in safeguarding justice and rule of law.

(Xinhua News Agency September, 25 2003)