The world will be looking to China to take a more direct part in the peacekeeping and other operations mounted by the international community, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Tuesday.

These measures should end to conflicts and help wartorn countries to rebuild their societies, Annan said when visiting the newly-built China Peacekeeping Civilian Police Training Center near Beijing.

Welcoming China's declared intention to be more actively involved in peacekeeping missions, Annan said China's increased participation would "add an important new dimension."

Annan said China, as permanent member of the UN Security Council, has always played a "central role" in the international community's response to threats against international peace and security.

China has understood that its interests, like those of all countries, are increasingly global, not only in terms of trade and development, but also in fighting international crime and terrorism, said Annan.

"Each such operations responds to a desperate need. And today, we face a surge in demand," said Annan, adding "Another 30,000 uniformed personnel may be required, on top of 50,000 already in the field. We will probably go beyond the peak in numbers of personnel that we reached in the early 1990s."

It is clear that China has the capability to provide many of the resources needed in peace operations.

"Your military is well-equipped and well-trained. Chinese hospitals provide excellent medical support. Your engineers are also highly proficient," Annan said.

So far, China has assigned a total of 297 Chinese peacekeeping police officers to East Timor, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Liberia, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Haiti. Now 92 Chinese police officers remain in five UN peacekeeping operations.

Annan arrived here Saturday for a five-day official visit to China at the invitation of the Chinese government. This is his sixth visit to the country as UN chief.