1st LD Writethru: China, UN agree on further cooperation during Ban's visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called for further cooperation with the United Nations when meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, on his 10th visit to China.

Xi applauded Ban's efforts and contributions in safeguarding world peace, promoting sustainable development, dealing with climate change and enhancing the cooperation between the UN and China in the past decade.

He said China will continue to be a firm UN supporter, vindicator and participant.

Stressing that economic globalization not only brings opportunities and prosperity, but also poses challenges and problems, Xi called for a stronger global governance and commitment to building a "community of common destiny."

He underlined the importance of adhering to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and advocated a global governance concept featuring mutual consultation, efforts and sharing.

"We must commit to resolving hotspot issues through political means, advocate dialogue and consultation, address both the symptoms and root causes and give full play to the central role of the United Nations," said the president.

Xi invited Ban to attend the Group of Twenty (G20) Summit, scheduled for Sept. 4-5 in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province.

China will push the Hangzhou summit to prioritize development, he said, adding that China's Belt and Road Initiative will push forward the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Ban extended his sympathies for the death of a Chinese peacekeeper in an attack on the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali last month and thanked China for participation in UN peacekeeping missions.

He said Xi's initiatives on supporting UN peacekeeping missions and South-South cooperation have had significant impacts on international cooperation.

Ban also appreciated China's efforts to resolve the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue as the chair of the six-party talks.

The United Nations is willing to enhance cooperation with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to boost infrastructure construction in developing countries, he said.

Ban said he was looking forward to the Hangzhou summit.

Earlier on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with the UN secretary-general, during which they exchanged views on China-UN cooperation, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the Syria crisis, the Afghanistan issue and hotspot issues in Africa.

Ban's China tour lasts from Wednesday to Sunday and will also take him to Hangzhou and Suzhou in southern China. Endi