China attaches a great importance to the cooperation between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organizations in maintaining international peace and security, a senior Chinese diplomat said Tuesday.

Li Baodong, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, made the statement at the UN Security Council, which heard the briefing by Catherine Ashton, the high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy. She made the briefing at the request of Austria, which is one of the non-permanent member of the Security Council.

In January, when China held the rotating Security Council presidency, the 15-nation Council convened an open debate on the cooperation between the United Nations and regional and sub- regional organizations in the field of maintaining international peace and security, Li said.

Representatives from 11 regional and sub-regional organizations, such as the European Union, the African Union and the Arab League, were invited to speak at the debate and a presidential statement was issued at the end of the Council meeting.

China highly appreciates the positive role of the European Union in maintaining regional and international peace, stability and security, Li said. "We always hold that dialogue and consultation are the best way to mitigate crisis, prevent and solve the conflict."