Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing stressed Wednesday that the reform of the United Nations should center on accelerating common development.

The reform of the UN should proceed from the principle of reaching consensus through consultations and efforts should be made to find solutions which would address the concerns of all sides, Li said at a meeting with Jean Ping, president of the 59th session of the UN General Assembly.

He said the protection of the interests of developing countries should be a priority in carrying out the UN reform and the reform should be focused on the promotion of common development.

The reform of the United Nations should also help safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, Li said.

The Chinese foreign minister also expressed his appreciation over a decision made by Jean Ping on Sept. 15 not to include into the draft agenda of the current General Assembly session the so-called "question of the representation of 23 million people of Taiwan in the UN."

Jean Ping said he shared China's position on UN reform, and highly appraised the role played by China on the nuclear issue of the Korean peninsula.

(Xinhua News Agency September 30, 2004)