The role of the United Nations is irreplaceable as an important venue for pushing forward democratization and legalization in international relations, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said in Beijing Sunday.  

Tang had a meeting with Jean Ping, president-elect of the 59th Session of the UN General Assembly in Beijing.

The United Nations is an inter-governmental organization with the most extensive universality, representativeness and authoritativeness, Tang said, adding that UN is the best stage for implementing multilateralism.

On the reform of the United Nations, Tang said the reform should be conducive to enhancing the role played by the organization and its capability to cope with threat and challenges.

The reform should also take into consideration of the rational concern and legal interests of developing countries and promote UN to increase input in the area of development, Tang stressed.

Tang in the meeting restated China's principled stance on Taiwan issue. The Chinese people absolutely oppose certain countries' proposal to allow Taiwan to join the United Nations for such move violates widely recognized legal principles, he said.

Majority of the UN member states will also disapprove such move so that it is doomed to fail, he said.

Ping said he and the UN General Assembly will stick to the one-China policy, and abide by the UN Charter and Resolution 2758.

During the meeting, Ping said that China plays an important role in UN affairs. He also said that during his tenure as the president of the UN General Assembly he wants to keep close contact with China so as to ensure the success of the 59th session of the UN General Assembly.

Ping, also Gabonese minister of foreign affairs, arrived here Sunday morning for a six-day visit at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

The two sides will exchange views on the work of the 59th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations and other regional and international issues, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2004)