China has achieved tremendous successes in its development in the past decade and has become one of the most important economies in the world, the administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said on Saturday.

Thanks to the successful combination of market economy, economic globalization and the government's role in the development of the national economy, China has achieved eye-catching fast economic growth, Kemal Dervis told a press conference.

In 2006, China's export exceeded that of the United States for the first time, which is seen as a milestone in global economic development, said Dervis.

Meanwhile, the UNDP chief expressed the hope for China's increased participation in disccussion on global issues within the framework of the United Nations, such as those on climate change and disease control.

The biggest challenge faced by developing countries is how to improve their citizens' income and raise their health and education levels, as the governments strive to integrate their countries into the global economy, he said.

Dervis arrived in Costa Rica on Friday on his first tour of Central America after taking office in 2005.

Source: Xinhua