President Hu Jintao on Friday pledged that China would continue to safeguard the United Nations' authority and support its role in international affairs with a "responsible and constructive" attitude.

 

Hu made the remark during a meeting with UN Secretary-General Designate Ban Ki-moon in Beijing.

 

"The United Nations is at a crucial historic period," Hu said, citing the rising global challenges and possible threats.

 

China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the world's biggest developing country, has always been a firm force in promoting world peace and development, Hu told Ban, who will succeed Kofi Annan as the UN chief in January.

 

"We will continue to support the UN secretary-general's work and make our contribution to the world peace and development," Hu said.

 

Ban arrived in Beijing on Friday for a one-day visit to China in his capacity as foreign minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK). He is visiting the five permanent UN Security Council members following his election as secretary-general two weeks ago.

 

Noting China has a significant and positive influence on international affairs, Ban said he would cooperate closely with China and make joint efforts to address issues including UN reform.

 

Ban said he is committed to building a harmonious United Nations and making it play a bigger role and winning more support and trust.

 

Following the meeting with Hu, Ban exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue with State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan.

 

Tang said the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula is at a crucial stage and concerned countries should be more flexible to help the situation develop in the direction of de-escalation.

 

"Related parties should keep calm and restrained in dealing with the issue to prevent the conflict from escalating," Tang told Ban. "They should safeguard and promote the process of the Six-Party Talks and guide the situation towards the peaceful settlement of the issue through dialogue and making the peninsula nuclear-free."

 

Ban appreciated China's positive efforts on the issue and said the ROK's position is close to China.

 

Before meeting Hu, Ban also held talks with Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

 

 

 

 

Observers say Ban would play a more positive and flexible role in resolving the latest crisis resulting from the nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on October 9.

 

Ban was the ROK's top negotiator in the stalled Six-Party Talks aimed at making the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons. Ban was reported to have said he would visit the DPRK, but did not say when.

 

As an ROK diplomat, Ban has an advantage in the settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, said Wu Miaofa, a researcher at the China Institute of International Studies.

 

"You can't expect Ban to solve the tough and complicated problem by himself, but you can expect him to play a more active and flexible role in the issue," Wu was quoted as saying by Beijing-based Global Magazine.

 

(China Daily October 28, 2006)