As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China promotes multilateralism in safeguarding the authority of the UN, advocates a just and rational world political order, opposes unilateralism and hegemonism, and devotes itself to promoting democratized and law-based international relations. China actively takes part in UN cooperation in peacekeeping, arms control, anti-terrorism, fostering development, defending human rights and justice, and environmental protection, and the activities of UN specialist agencies. China also attaches great importance to other multilateral systems, promotes international arms control and disarmament, supports the multilateral arms control process including the development of non-proliferation mechanisms; it also supports multilateral practical cooperation relating to counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, humanitarian aid, climate and environment, avian flu and transnational crime.

In January 2005, Premier Wen Jiabao and then in April, President Hu Jintao met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Jakarta. In September Hu Jintao delivered important speeches at the UN Summit, the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development, the UN Security Council Summit and the Roundtable Conference on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the UN. In particular, his speech "Making Great Efforts to Build a Harmonious World with Long-lasting Peace and Common Prosperity" set out a new concept for "building a harmonious world." China was also active within the UN diplomatic framework. On November 30, 2005, China's Resolution on Enhancing Capacity-building in Global Public Health was adopted at the 60th UN General Assembly.

China supports the UN in exercising its due role and proper influence, safeguards the authority of the UN Security Council, and on the question of UN reform has played an important role by firmly adhering to its principles. China takes an active part in the reform, spurring the reform towards the fullest possible reflection of the rational demands and concerns of the developing countries.