UN Chief Ban and Chinese President Xi discuss Syria, N. Korea issues

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Beijing, capital of China, June 19, 2013. (Photo : Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)

President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Xi said people around the world have pinned their hopes on the UN on multiple occasions, as it has conducted a number of important missions. Profound and complicated global changes require all UN members to work together to address difficulties and challenges, Xi said.

Xi called for the UN to uphold peace and development, adhere to fairness and justice and play a bigger role in promoting cooperation and common prosperity.

Xi briefed Ban on China’s development goals, saying China and the UN need each other.

Xi underscored the importance China has placed on the UN, pledging to firmly support the UN.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has heavy responsibilities to assume and has the capability to assume them, Xi said.

China will step up its efforts to promote the peaceful settlement of international disputes, support the UN’s millennium development goals, work with other parties to tackle climate change and make more contributions toward world peace and human development, Xi said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, second from left, meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping, second from right, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China Wednesday, June 19, 2013. Ban is on a three-day visit to China to meet with Xi and Premier Li Keqiang. Their discussions are expected to include China's growing involvement in U.N. affairs, along with international topics including tensions on the Korean Peninsula. (Photo : AP Photo/Andy Wong, Pool)

The UN appreciates China’s support and participation in UN peacekeeping missions, as well as its efforts to help attain the UN’s millennium development goals, Ban said.

Ban also congratulated China on the successful launch of the Shenzhou-10 spacecraft.

Ban called for China to play a bigger role in global and regional issues.

Xi and Ban also exchanged views on the Syrian issue and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Foreign Minister Wang Yi also held talks with Ban on Wednesday. Wang described the UN as an international organization with significant representation and authoritativeness, saying China will participate more actively in the UN.

Ban lauded China’s leading role in dealing with international issues and called for stronger UN-China cooperation in efforts to tackle global challenges.

Ban arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a four-day visit. <Xinhua/NEWSis>