The Chinese government on Friday said it would continue its insistence that the next UN secretary-general should come form Asia.

"It is a common desire of Asian nations and has been widely supported by the international community that next UN secretary-general should come from Asia," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qing Gang said.

"China will continue to support an Asian candidate," he said.

The Security Council will hold the fourth "straw poll" for UN secretary-general on Oct. 2.

There are seven declared candidates:

-- Ban Ki-Moo, Foreign Minister of Republic of Korea.

-- Shashi Tharoor, the Indian UN undersecretary-general.

-- Surakiart Sathirathai, Thailand's former deputy prime minister.

-- Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein, Jordan's UN Ambassador.

-- Ashraf Ghani, former Afghan finance minister.

-- Jayantha Dhanapala, a Sri Lankan presidential advisor and former UN undersecretary-general for disarmament.

-- and Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Latvian president.

All are from Asia except Vike-Freiberga.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman was asked to comment on reports that its insistence on an Asian meant more meritorious candidates from other continents were excluded.

Qin said China held a positive and open attitude to all the Asian candidates.

"We think there is no doubt that a new UN secretary-general with ability and prestige, who can be accepted by all sides, can come from these Asian candidates."

"It is not fair to doubt the ability of the Asian candidates and we cannot accept this," he said.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's second five-year term will end on December 31.

The UN charter allows the Security Council to nominate a candidate who is then be approved by the UN General Assembly.

The Security Council has hold three informal polls, all of which put Ban in top place.

Source: Xinhua