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Beijing: UN chief Ban Ki-moon said the United Nations wants to strengthen its partnership with a rising China, during visit to Beijing on Wednesday focused on global challenges such as food security and soaring energy prices.
In opening remarks to their meeting, Ban told Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi that China, one of five permanent members of the UN Security council, was regarded as a "strong partner" of the global body.
"The purpose of my visit here is to ask even more stronger partnership and more participation from your country," Ban said before reporters were ushered from the
room.
The secretary general was due to meet later in the day with Premier Wen Jiabao and president and Communist Party leader Hu Jintao.
Yang thanked Ban for the UN's assistance in responding to the earthquake in China's Sichuan province that killed almost 70,000 people and left five million homeless. Ban flew to the area just days after the March 12 temblor, visiting one of the hardest-hit towns and promising UN help with reconstruction.
"We also support the relevant UN agencies in sending an appeal to the international community for offering material assistance to China," Yang said.
Ban's visit to Beijing follows a trip to Tokyo, where he said he would soon visit North Korea following its recent declaration of its nuclear programs.
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