Civilian contributions to UN peace-keeping operations worldwide deserve more attention, China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya said Wednesday.

"UN peacekeeping operations in recent years had demonstrated the increasing importance played by civilian forces in ensuring the smooth transition from conflict to peace-building," Wang told a high-level thematic debate by the UN Security Council.

The open council meeting, Civilian Aspects of Conflict Management and Peace-building, was held on the sidelines of the annual debate of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Wang told the 15-member council that in conflict management, the roles of military and civilian forces were closely related. "

There could be no rule without peace and no peace without rule," he said.

He stressed that civilian assistance should be provided in accordance with specific circumstances and needs.

"Just as conflicts varied greatly, so did the need for a civilian response," Wang said, adding that: "civilian elements in peacekeeping operations should take targeted measures and avoid doing other groups' work."

The ambassador went on to say that existing mechanisms of the UN system must be brought into full play.

"The various bodies of the United Nations system had accumulated rich experience in peacekeeping, and the international community should draw upon past successes and lessons while providing full resources to allow the United Nations system to fulfill its responsibilities," said Wang.

He called for better cooperation between the world body and regional and subregional organizations, "as they could add to peacekeeping operations."

"Although their capacities to respond militarily remained limited, increasing the assistance of regional and subregional organizations in the civilian sector should be a focus of the UN work," he said.

He concluded by saying that China had taken an active part in peacekeeping operations in the military sector in the past and would increase its contribution to their civilian aspects in the future.