China firmly supports an Asian candidate in the election of the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing at the general debate of the 61st UN General Assembly Friday.

Li noted that as the chief administrator of the United Nations, the Secretary-General has an important role to play. "China will firmly support an Asian candidate, and we are convinced that Asia can produce a competent and well-respected Secretary-General acceptable to all member states," he said.

On UN reform, the minister said the United Nations needs to take firm steps in carrying out reform as enhancing its role through reform is in the common interest of mankind.

He said China welcomes progress in the UN reform and particularly progress in implementing the Outcome Document. The minister announced China's decision to pledge 3 million dollars to the UN Peace building Fund, and reiterated the country's commitment to advancing UN reform to strengthen the unity and authority of the organization and enhance its efficiency and capacity to respond to challenges.

The UN reform, he said, should be comprehensive in coverage and progress should be made in security, development, human rights as well as other fields. More input should be made in development to facilitate the realization of the Millennium Development Goals, he added.

The UN reform, Li stressed, should satisfy, as far as possible, the needs of its member states, particularly those from the developing world. This reform should be a democratic process and full consultation should be conducted to reach extensive consensus, and major issues of controversy should be handled with caution and dealt with through in-depth consultation.

US$3 mln for UN Peacebuilding Fund

China will pledge 3 million dollars to the UN Peacebuilding Fund, said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

He said over the years, China has honored in good faith its financial obligation and made due contribution to the UN budget. "As China's economy grows, China is prepared to increase contributions to the UN budget in accordance with the principle of the ability to pay," Li said.

"We are ready to take part in relevant discussions in a constructive way to hope that a fair and equitable formula will be reached on the basis of extensive consultations," Li added.
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Working for settlement of Iranian nuclear issue

China will continue to play a constructive role in working for an appropriate settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.

China hopes that the parties involved will exercise patience and restraint, continue to be flexible in approach and stay committed to the correct course of pursuing peaceful resolution, Li said.

He added that diplomatic negotiation represents the best chance for resolving Iran's nuclear issue and serves the interests of all parties.

Middle East peace process should be restarted

The Middle East peace process should be restarted so a s to ensure an early and comprehensive settlement of the issue in the region, said Li, regarding the issue of Palestine as the core of the Middle East issue.

"The peace process should be restarted in keeping with the relevant UN resolutions and the principle of 'land for peace' in the interest of reaching an early and comprehensive settlement of the Middle East issue including the Palestinian-Israel conflict, so that the countries involved can live in peace and the region can enjoy durable peace," he said.

On the Lebanon-Israel conflict, Li said, China opposes any move that will undermine peace and stability in the region and calls for a comprehensive cessation of hostilities.

China welcomes Security Council resolution 1701 and hopes that it will be strictly observed, said the Chinese foreign minister.

"China hopes that the parties concerned will reach an early agreement on a framework of political settlement that is both just and durable," he added.

Six-party talks remain effective mechanism

The Six-Party Talks remains an effective mechanism for enhancing understanding and trust and resolving the Korean nuclear issue.

Li stressed that China is committed to maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula, making it free of nuclear weapons and promoting the Six-Party Talks.

He pointed out that during the Security Council deliberations in July on the DPRK's missile tests and the related resolution, China made strenuous efforts to engage the parties concerned in an effort to uphold peace on the peninsula and in Northeast Asia, the unity and authority of the Security Council and the progress already made in the Six-Party Talks.

"Long-standing antagonism and mistrust between the parties concerned is the main cause for the current difficulty," Li noted.

He called on all parties to be patient and pragmatic and act with vision to reduce differences and remove obstacles through dialogue.

"We hope the parties involved will be cool-headed and more flexible, expand common ground, meet each other half way and work together for the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks and progressive implementation of the Joint Statement," Li said.

"This is the only viable solution to the Korean nuclear issue," he concluded.

China, Africa to hold summit on cooperation in November

China and Africa will hold a summit and the third Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing on Nov. 3-5.

Li said Chinese and African leaders will discuss ways to establish and foster a new type of strategic partnership featuring political equality and mutual trust, win-win economic cooperation and cultural exchanges and will draw a blueprint for enhancing China-Africa cooperation.

"Stronger ties between China and Africa will contribute to South-South cooperation and international peace and development," Li Zhaoxing said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2006)