China will continue in its unremitting efforts to promote enduring peace and common prosperity for a more harmonious world, President Hu Jintao said during his meeting with visiting United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday.

Hu commended Ban for his great accomplishments to improve the UN's work and promote international cooperation and world peace since taking office.

In appreciation of what the UN chief has done, "China will, as it has always done, support and coordinate with the work of UN and the Secretary-General, and make unremitting efforts to promote enduring peace and common prosperity of a harmonious world," Hu told Ban, who is on a five-day official visit to China.

Ban responded in kind, saying Beijing's role in realizing the Millennium Development Goals, protecting the rights of women and children, promoting sustainable development and supporting peace-keeping missions around the world have been highly valued by UN member nations.

Ban voiced his hope that China will continue to participate vigorously in international affairs while closely cooperating with the UN.

Hu also called on the UN to practice multilateral relations - while promoting common development in the international community.

On Sunday, Ban attended the Summit Forum held on the closing day of the Shanghai World Expo - and used the occasion to congratulate China for successfully holding the first-ever World Expo in a developing nation.

He also urged China to keep marching on the path of sustainable development, while placing an even greater emphasis on social equality and environmental sustainability during a speech addressed to students at Nanjing University in East China's Jiangsu Province on Sunday.

"Seven of the world's 10 most-polluted cities are in China. Your environmental footprint is growing daily," Ban said, while praising China for having begun its fight against the side effects of its booming prosperity - climate change and environmental degradation - along with poverty.

The UN chief noted that many of these development issues were raised during discussions as Chinese leaders recently met to draw the 12th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development of the country from 2011 to 2015.

State Councilor Dai Bingguo also met with Ban later on Monday. Ban will meet with top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo on Tuesday before leaving on Wednesday.