United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan will begin a five-day China visit next Friday to discuss international issues and promote UN reforms.

On his seventh visit to the world's most populous country, Annan will meet with President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan for talks expected to touch on Pyongyang and Teheran, both of which have threatened to develop nuclear weapons.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters in Beijing that China has been keeping close contact with Annan.

"This has important meaning for strengthening co-operation between China and the United Nations," Liu said. "We welcome Annan's visit to China. We meanwhile hope the exchange of views can obtain positive results."

China is on the UN Security Council and has been chosen as a member of the newly formed UN Human Rights Council.

On Annan's last day in Beijing, he is expected to hold a discussion with about 30 students at Peking University who are members of its Model United Nations Association.

The discussion is expected to be in a free question and answer form, so no fixed topics have been decided yet, said Luo Ling, programme officer with the school's international relations office.

The China visit is the third stop of Annan's five-Asian-nation tour that will begin in the Republic of Korea on Sunday and will also take him to Japan, Viet Nam and Thailand.

Speaking at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Wednesday, Annan said the 191-member UN General Assembly is deeply divided over key management reforms and he would push for reform of the UN during his trip.

Source: China Daily