China firmly supports the central role of the United Nations in international affairs, and the efforts to safeguard and strengthen the authority of the world body, a new Chinese envoy to the UN said Thursday.

China will continue to play an active role in all UN agencies, said Li Baodong, the new Chinese permanent representative to the UN.

Li presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the organization's headquarters in New York.

The United Nations is the most universal, representative and authoritative inter-governmental organization in the world, Li said.

China advocates multilateralism all along and values the role of the organization in the globe.

Ban thanked China for the longstanding great support it has given to the UN.

Speaking highly of the active contributions that China made to the relief efforts in the quake-hit Haiti, the UN chief said that "It is impressive to see the Chinese rescue team is the first international team to arrive in Haiti after the earthquake."

Ban appreciated China's leading role in such areas as the efforts to realize the Millennium Development Goals, deal with climate change, promote public health, and undertake disaster relief work.

Giving a positive assessment to the sound cooperation between China and the United Nations, Ban said that the UN work can not succeed without the participation and support of China.

He also expressed his willingness to broaden the scope of their cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2010)