Narrowing the gap between rich countries and poor countries should be on the top of the task list for UN reform, Romanian President Ion Iliescu said here

Tuesday.

The president, who is here attending the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview that there are two main goals for the world body to reform.

"Firstly, I think there is a security problem, and it is touching the Security Council. We are in favor of enlarging it," said Iliescu.

"Secondly, the world body is facing a very dangerous problem, the big gap between rich and poor countries, which is deepening with the globalization processes," he said.

"So one of the task of the UN reform should be focused on improving the rules of the game, the rules on the world economy and the rules on the market," he said, adding that the challenge before the UN reformers should be making a strategic plan to narrow the gap "in 10, 20, and even 30 years."

"To narrow the gap between rich countries and poor countries, there are two main directions," he went on.

"First of all, the international community should help the developing countries to develop itself, to have a better government, better governance, and to make good use of their potential," he said.

"In the same time, the solution lays in the international level, " he said.

He said that it is very important to improve the international frame for a development-friendly climate, so that developing countries can have not only access to a wider international market, but also assistance for their development on information technology, high-tech research and education.

Uneven development in the world is not only deepening the gap between the rich countries and poor countries, but also causing problems like terrorism, according to the president.

"There are many aspects (for the cause of terrorism), and I think one of them is deeply rooted in the social problems," he said.

The president believes that poverty in the world is "one of the most favorable factors for terror groups."

"But not only this," he added, "the cause is also rooted in political relations, social relations, different culture and different religions."

On bilateral relations, the Romanian president said that the relations between Romania and China has set "a good example" for other countries.

"Even far one from another, even one big and one smaller, but there is a good tradition for mutual respect and understanding along the time," he said.

Source: Xinhua