China firmly supports an Asian candidate in the election of the
next Secretary-General of the United Nations, said Chinese Foreign
Minister Li Zhaoxing at the general debate of the 61st
UN General Assembly Friday.
Li noted that as the chief administrator of the United Nations,
the Secretary-General has an important role to play. "China will
firmly support an Asian candidate, and we are convinced that Asia
can produce a competent and well-respected Secretary-General
acceptable to all member states," he said.
On UN reform, the minister said the United Nations needs to take
firm steps in carrying out reform as enhancing its role through
reform is in the common interest of mankind.
He said China welcomes progress in the UN reform and
particularly progress in implementing the Outcome Document. The
minister announced China's decision to pledge 3 million dollars to
the UN Peace building Fund, and reiterated the country's commitment
to advancing UN reform to strengthen the unity and authority of the
organization and enhance its efficiency and capacity to respond to
challenges.
The UN reform, he said, should be comprehensive in coverage and
progress should be made in security, development, human rights as
well as other fields. More input should be made in development to
facilitate the realization of the Millennium Development Goals, he
added.
The UN reform, Li stressed, should satisfy, as far as possible,
the needs of its member states, particularly those from the
developing world. This reform should be a democratic process and
full consultation should be conducted to reach extensive consensus,
and major issues of controversy should be handled with caution and
dealt with through in-depth consultation.
US$3 mln for UN Peacebuilding Fund
China will pledge 3 million dollars to the UN Peacebuilding
Fund, said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.
He said over the years, China has honored in good faith its
financial obligation and made due contribution to the UN budget.
"As China's economy grows, China is prepared to increase
contributions to the UN budget in accordance with the principle of
the ability to pay," Li said.
"We are ready to take part in relevant discussions in a
constructive way to hope that a fair and equitable formula will be
reached on the basis of extensive consultations," Li added.
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Working for settlement of Iranian nuclear
issue
China will continue to play a constructive role in working for
an appropriate settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.
China hopes that the parties involved will exercise patience and
restraint, continue to be flexible in approach and stay committed
to the correct course of pursuing peaceful resolution, Li said.
He added that diplomatic negotiation represents the best chance
for resolving Iran's nuclear issue and serves the interests of all
parties.
Middle East peace process should be
restarted
The Middle East peace process should be restarted so a s to
ensure an early and comprehensive settlement of the issue in the
region, said Li, regarding the issue of Palestine as the core of
the Middle East issue.
"The peace process should be restarted in keeping with the
relevant UN resolutions and the principle of 'land for peace' in
the interest of reaching an early and comprehensive settlement of
the Middle East issue including the Palestinian-Israel conflict, so
that the countries involved can live in peace and the region can
enjoy durable peace," he said.
On the Lebanon-Israel conflict, Li said, China opposes any move
that will undermine peace and stability in the region and calls for
a comprehensive cessation of hostilities.
China welcomes Security Council resolution 1701 and hopes that
it will be strictly observed, said the Chinese foreign
minister.
"China hopes that the parties concerned will reach an early
agreement on a framework of political settlement that is both just
and durable," he added.
Six-party talks remain effective mechanism
The Six-Party Talks remains an effective mechanism for enhancing
understanding and trust and resolving the Korean nuclear issue.
Li stressed that China is committed to maintaining peace and
stability on the peninsula, making it free of nuclear weapons and
promoting the Six-Party Talks.
He pointed out that during the Security Council deliberations in
July on the DPRK's missile tests and the related resolution, China
made strenuous efforts to engage the parties concerned in an effort
to uphold peace on the peninsula and in Northeast Asia, the unity
and authority of the Security Council and the progress already made
in the Six-Party Talks.
"Long-standing antagonism and mistrust between the parties
concerned is the main cause for the current difficulty," Li
noted.
He called on all parties to be patient and pragmatic and act
with vision to reduce differences and remove obstacles through
dialogue.
"We hope the parties involved will be cool-headed and more
flexible, expand common ground, meet each other half way and work
together for the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks and
progressive implementation of the Joint Statement," Li said.
"This is the only viable solution to the Korean nuclear issue,"
he concluded.
China, Africa to hold summit on cooperation in
November
China and Africa will hold a summit and the third Ministerial
Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing on
Nov. 3-5.
Li said Chinese and African leaders will discuss ways to
establish and foster a new type of strategic partnership featuring
political equality and mutual trust, win-win economic cooperation
and cultural exchanges and will draw a blueprint for enhancing
China-Africa cooperation.
"Stronger ties between China and Africa will contribute to
South-South cooperation and international peace and development,"
Li Zhaoxing said.
(Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2006)