Chinese state councilor meets UN chief

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi on Thursday met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Beijing, pledging China's continued support for the international organization. The UN shoulders the responsibility of safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, said Yang, noting that the work of the organization should place emphasis on both inheritance and innovation. He said China hopes the UN plays a creative and major role in pushing forward the accomplishment of the Millennium Development Goals. The UN should firmly safeguard the purpose and principle of the UN Charter, as well as maintain the victory of the World War II and the post-war international order, he said. China will continue to support the work of the UN and its secretary-general, he added. Ban said the UN is willing to enhance cooperation with China, so as to jointly cope with various challenges. The two sides also exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula situation and on issues relating to Syria. Earlier Thursday, Yang met with former Australian Prime Minister Robert Hawke. During his stay in Beijing, Hawke attended the International Symposium on Security and Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region.