New Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday at this Red Sea resort and the two discussed various issues of common interest.

In the meeting held on the sidelines of a conference of the International Compact with Iraq (ICI), Yang told Ban that China will continue supporting the UN to play an important role in achieving the world's peace and development.

Ban said the UN valued China's international status and influence, expressing hopes that the UN and China would strengthen cooperation.

Yang said the meeting of the International Compact with Iraq, jointly held by the UN and Iraq, is very important.

China hoped Iraq could achieve security and stability at an early date and make progress in reconstruction with participation and support from the international community, said Yang.

Ban said the UN was willing to play a bigger role in Iraq's reconstruction.

As for the Darfur issue, China maintained that it should be solved through dialogue and equal consultation, Yang said.

At present, it is necessary to continue pushing forward with the political process in a balanced fashion and the peacekeeping mission in Darfur, he said, adding that the UN, African Union and the Sudanese government would make consultation and implement the Annan Plan as soon as possible.

Yang said the Chinese side will continue to play a constructive role in solving the Darfur issue.

Ban lauded the positive role played by China regarding the Darfur issue. The UN is making efforts in hopes of seeking a political solution to the Darfur issue, and it should be given more time and space, said Ban.

The Annan Plan, put forward by then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, was a three-phase support plan. The Annan Plan aims to deploy a combination of African Union and UN peacekeeping force in the Darfur region to restore peace and stability and end the humanitarian crisis.

The ICI was initially launched July 28, 2006, in the hope of creating "a permanent partnership between Iraq and the international community" to help Iraq in its reconstruction efforts and to pursue political, economic and social development over the next five years.

The one-day ICI meeting gathered senior diplomats from Iraq's six neighbors -- Iran, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait -- plus Bahrain, Egypt, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Conference and the UN.

Also attending are senior diplomats from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, Britain, Russia, China and France -- and members of the G-8, including Germany, Canada, Japan and Italy.

Source: Xinhua