China regards the United Nations as the "best venue for promoting democracy in international relations and implementing multilateralism" and will further cooperation with it to combat the common challenges of the world, a Chinese official said Tuesday.

Li Jinzhang, assistant to the Chinese foreign minister, made the remarks at a celebration held by UN agencies' local branches in China to mark United Nations Day on Oct. 24.

The traditional issues of peace and development are still in need of solutions but issues such as extreme poverty, cross-border crime, terrorism and environmental pollution posed new challenges, Li said.

Only by strengthening international cooperation, maintaining close mutual coordination, taking common action and establishing comprehensive global partnership, can mankind overcome those obstacles, Li noted.

The United Nations should take the lead in international cooperation and China resolutely supports and maintains the authority and core status of the United Nations and strengthens the role of it, Li said.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette of the United Nations said on the occasion that China supported the United Nations in every possible way and is a wonderful partner of the UN local branches.

All countries and people of the world should realize that the United Nations is their own organization, strengthen their commitments to the United Nations and work together to overcome the tremendous common challenges, she said.

About 300 diplomats, Chinese officials, scholars and staff from15 UN agencies' local branches attended the celebration.

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2003)