China supports the work of a high-level panel on reforming the United Nations (UN) and is giving serious thought of the proposals it submitted to UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said in Beijing Monday.  

Zhang said China would like to keep in touch and consult with all relevant parties to bring out active progress in the issue.

She said China applauds the work Annan has done and will continue to back his efforts in maintaining and strengthening the roles of UN In the world arena.

The 16-member panel was appointed by Annan to identify major threats to humankind in the 21st century and propose ways of reforming the world body.

The panel, chaired by former Thai Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun, comprises eminent figures such as former Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen and former US National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft.

When asked to comment on the recent reports of the alleged corruption involved in the UN "oil for food" program, Zhang said China hopes the scandal could be clarified as soon as possible.

She said China hopes the UN inquiry team will find out truth through just, independent, objective and transparent investigation.

The oil-for-food program, launched in December 1996 and terminated in November 2003, was intended to alleviate the effects on Iraqis of the international sanctions imposed on the regime of Saddam Hussein. It allowed Iraq to sell oil under the UN supervision to buy food and humanitarian supplies.

But US congressional investigators say Saddam's regime may have skimmed billions of dollars from the program, and allegations have surfaced of pay-offs to officials and private individuals from around the globe.

US Republican congressman Norm Coleman recently called for the resignation of Annan over an alleged fraud and lack of oversight in the Iraq oil-for-food program handled by UN during Saddam Hussein's presidency.

Coleman, who heads a committee of five congress members, claimed that they had seen evidence that the Saddam regime accumulated some US$21 billion illegally by manipulating the UN-managed program.

Annan has appointed the former head of the US federal banking system, Paul Volcker, to lead an inquiry into the allegations.

(Xinhua News Agency December 7, 2004)