China pledged to play a more active role in UN affairs in various sectors and to strengthen its partnership with the UN, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday.

While meeting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Wen said China has maintained quality coordination and effective cooperation with the UN to combat a series of global challenges such as climate change, as well as some international and regional hot spot issues.

China would help to promote the UN's leading role in international affairs and continue to support the UN chief, he added.

He said it is of vital and strategic significance to hold the UN summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). With new challenges brought by the international financial crisis, the realization of the MDGs is crucial to helping the majority of developing countries stay confident about their own development.

He reaffirmed China's determination to participate in international cooperation and achieve the MDGs as scheduled.

Ban spoke highly of China's efforts to slash poverty and promote sustainable development.

He said China has done a lot to help with the development of Africa, the fulfillment of the MDGs, the combat against climate change and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The UN chief also congratulated on the successful World Expo in Shanghai, and he was looking forward to attending the event.

Arriving in New York on Tuesday for a three-day visit, Wen is expected to address the UN summit on the MDGs, the general debate of the 65th session of the UN General Assembly, a summit of the UN Security Council member states and a high-level discussion panel on AIDS and the MDGs.

About 140 heads of state and government will attend the summit where they would refresh their commitments to turn the MDGs into reality before the 2015 deadline.

The MDGs, forged in a UN summit in 2000, include eight ambitious goals, such as reducing worldwide extreme poverty by half, cutting infant and maternal mortality, establishing universal primary education and halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases claiming the lives of millions each year.

(Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2010)