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President Jiang Zemin Met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Updated: October 15, 2002 16:31
On October 14, 2002, President Jiang Zemin met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who was on a visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People.
Jiang welcomed Annan's fifth visit to China and highly appreciated the UN's important role in international affairs.
Jiang said that the world is undergoing great changes, experiencing profound and complex shifts in the international situation and the evolutionary twists and turns of multi-polarization and economic globalization. With more unstable factors in international relations, peace and development are still the theme of the times and in the interests and aspirations of all peoples. The international situation now and in the near future is characterized by general peace and stability, but with regional wars, tensions and turbulence. Jiang said that the economic revival of developing countries is an historical trend that could not be stopped, and represents an important feature of the new global pattern in the 21st century. He stressed that the sound development of the world economy could not be based on a rich minority and poor majority for long, and it is difficult to achieve lasting peace and stability in an unevenly developed world. The international community should pay due attention to development from a strategic perspective.
Praising the UN's important role in international affairs, Jiang said it has contributed in the past five decades to safeguarding world peace and promoting cooperation and development. Jiang said he hoped the UN would keep playing a crucial role in international affairs in the new century, and China would continue to firmly support the UN and the efforts of the Secretary-General.
On the Iraqi issue, Jiang emphasized that China believes that harmony is precious while handling the Iraqi issue. China has always held the Iraqi issue should be solved peacefully by political means, and it supports the UN's role in this respect.
Expressing his appreciation for China's support for the efforts of the UN, Annan said the UN's role and that of its Security Council should be strengthened in solving the Iraqi issue, in order to enable it to convince Iraq to follow relevant UN Security Council resolutions, accept inspections and eliminate weapons of mass destruction, promote a proper settlement and avoid any military conflicts occurring in the region.
The two sides also exchanged views on the prevention and treatment of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the fight against terrorism.
Jiang welcomed Annan's fifth visit to China and highly appreciated the UN's important role in international affairs.
Jiang said that the world is undergoing great changes, experiencing profound and complex shifts in the international situation and the evolutionary twists and turns of multi-polarization and economic globalization. With more unstable factors in international relations, peace and development are still the theme of the times and in the interests and aspirations of all peoples. The international situation now and in the near future is characterized by general peace and stability, but with regional wars, tensions and turbulence. Jiang said that the economic revival of developing countries is an historical trend that could not be stopped, and represents an important feature of the new global pattern in the 21st century. He stressed that the sound development of the world economy could not be based on a rich minority and poor majority for long, and it is difficult to achieve lasting peace and stability in an unevenly developed world. The international community should pay due attention to development from a strategic perspective.
Praising the UN's important role in international affairs, Jiang said it has contributed in the past five decades to safeguarding world peace and promoting cooperation and development. Jiang said he hoped the UN would keep playing a crucial role in international affairs in the new century, and China would continue to firmly support the UN and the efforts of the Secretary-General.
On the Iraqi issue, Jiang emphasized that China believes that harmony is precious while handling the Iraqi issue. China has always held the Iraqi issue should be solved peacefully by political means, and it supports the UN's role in this respect.
Expressing his appreciation for China's support for the efforts of the UN, Annan said the UN's role and that of its Security Council should be strengthened in solving the Iraqi issue, in order to enable it to convince Iraq to follow relevant UN Security Council resolutions, accept inspections and eliminate weapons of mass destruction, promote a proper settlement and avoid any military conflicts occurring in the region.
The two sides also exchanged views on the prevention and treatment of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the fight against terrorism.