At a Sunday meeting with Jean Ping, president-elect of the 59th
Session of the UN General Assembly, State Councilor Tang
Jiaxuan said that the role of the United Nations is
irreplaceable as a venue for advancing democratization and
legalization in international relations.
Tang added that the UN is the best stage for implementing
multilateralism, as it is the most universal, representative and
authoritative inter-governmental organization.
He believes that reform of the UN should enhance its capability
to cope with threats and challenges. Reform planners should also
consider the rational concern and legal interests of developing
countries, so that the UN can strengthen its role in
development.
Also during the meeting, Tang restated China's stance on the
Taiwan issue. He said that the Chinese people absolutely oppose
certain countries' proposals to allow Taiwan to join the United
Nations because such a move would violate widely recognized legal
principles.
Since the majority of the UN member states will also reject the
move, it is doomed to fail, noted Tang.
Ping said that he and the UN General Assembly would adhere to
the one-China policy and abide by the UN Charter and Resolution
2758.
During the meeting, Ping noted that China plays an important
role in UN affairs and during his tenure as president of the UN
General Assembly he intends to keep close contact with China.
Ping, who is also Gabon's minister of foreign affairs, arrived
in Beijing Sunday morning for a six-day visit at the invitation of
Chinese Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing.
(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2004)