Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan held talks with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan Sunday.

The two sides had extensive and in-depth exchange of views on the follow-ups of the millennium summit of the UN, the peace- keeping operations, the UN reforms, regional issues, and the relations between China and the UN.

Tang said that this is the fourth visit to China by Annan since he became the UN secretary-general, which shows he has been attaching importance to China.

The minister said that he appreciates Annan's efforts to strengthen the role of the UN and to reinvigorate the organization.

"At the turn of the century, the humankind is facing with both opportunities and challenges, and the international community expects much more from the UN," Tang said.

In the past year, the UN held the millennium summit and a series of other important meetings, and made active efforts to promote the settlement of some regional conflicts, especially issues in Africa and the Middle East, Tang noted.

He said that "it has been proven once again that the UN remains to be the most representative inter-governmental organization, and its authority and importance are irreplaceable by any other international and regional organizations."

Annan is happy to visit China again, saying that he thanked China for its positive efforts in UN affairs.

The secretary-general believes the good cooperation between the UN and China will be further facilitated in the new century.

Tang noted that strengthening the role of the UN in the 21st century, maintaining the peace, eliminating poverty, and realizing sustainable development are the core content of the documents of the millennium summit, hoping that the documents will be really implemented.

Tang also hoped that the commitments made by the UN member countries to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter will be fully demonstrated in the work of the organization. The UN should give priority to both peace and development and should give special concern to the needs of African countries and other most underdeveloped countries.

On the peace-keeping operations, Tang said that the UN reforms in this regard should help facilitate the political settlement of disputes and conflicts.

Those basic principles in peace-keeping operations, which have been proven effective, should not be neglected, and the UN Security Council should play a dominant role in this aspect, Tang said.

Annan defined China as an important member of the UN, saying China has important impact on peace-keeping operations. The developing and changing international situation called for the UN to revitalize its peace-keeping operations, Annan said, hoping China make greater contribution.

Tang briefed Annan on his latest African tour, stressing that China is very much concerned about the situation in the continent, hoping Africa realize peace, stability and development at an early date.

China holds that there would be no global stability and prosperity without the stability and prosperity in Africa, therefore the international society should increase their help to the needy African countries, Tang said, noting that enhancing the friendly cooperation with African countries has always been China' s consistent policy and an important component of China's foreign policy.

Annan appreciated China's efforts to give importance to and show care about Africa, saying that China, as a trustful and reliable friend of African countries, has rendered valuable assistance to African's peace and economic development, citing the successful convening of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum held in October, 2000. At the forum China's decision to exempt debts of some debt-ridden and most under-developed African countries has won universal acknowledgment from African countries.

(Xinhua 01/21/2001)