More than 100 representatives from China, the United Nations (UN), and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries attended a symposium in Beijing Monday on UN peace-keeping.

The seminar, "Challenges for Peace-keeping Activities: Regional Cooperation and Exchanges", was sponsored by the Peace-Keeping Affairs Office of China's Ministry of National Defense.

Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), addressed the meeting with a call for safeguarding and strengthening the UN's authority in international security and peace-keeping.

Ma proposed that regional organizations play a role under UN leadership. He also supported the practice of peaceful dispute resolution, adherence to fundamental peace-keeping principles and full resources for UN peace-keeping work.

According to a spokesman for the PLA office, as of October, China had 8,883 soldiers and officers involved in UN peace-keeping missions.

(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2007)