GLOBAL STRENGTH: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Beijing on June 20 (DING LIN)

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon concluded on June 21 his sixth visit to China since taking office in 2007 and the first since China's leadership transition this March. During the four-day visit, the UN's top official commended both China's commitment to multilateralism and its contributions to the largest world organization, expressing his hope for "an even bigger and stronger partnership" between China and the UN.

Observers said that with the rapid development of China, the country's global influence has been on the rise. The UN hopes China will play a bigger role in world affairs and become more active in promoting international security and global development. The latest visit from Ban, observers said, will help build a good working relationship with China's new leadership and further deepen cooperation between China and the UN.

Growing role

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has long made its own efforts to promote international security. However, it has kept a relatively low profile in world affairs following late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's advice, focusing instead on internal development.

Chen Xulong, Director of the Department for International and Strategic Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, believes the situation has been evolving in recent years.

Since the beginning of the 21st century after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the long-held dominant position of the United States in the UN has been challenged by multilateralism. Against this backdrop, many countries begin to attach more importance to China's role. When Western countries put forward UN resolutions, they tend to give consideration to China's views and attempt to gain the country's support. China has also begun playing a bigger role in UN affairs.

With the upgrading of China's international status, Chen said, the country is gradually adjusting its foreign policy orientation, from that of a bystander to an active participant in world affairs.

Sheng Hongsheng, a professor of public international law with Zhejiang Sci-Tech University and an expert on UN peacekeeping missions, said China's participation in the resolution of international problems is now expected by the global community. "From maintaining international security to promoting global economic development as well as addressing climate change issues, China is playing a more and more important role," said Sheng.

Ban's visit came shortly before China announced its decision to send a peacekeeping force to the Republic of Mali, and for the first time send security forces. In the past, the majority of Chinese soldiers in UN peacekeeping missions have engaged in engineering, transportation and medical services. Others are military observers and staff officers.

Sheng said China's decision to send security forces was a remarkable move that would help promote its image as a responsible power in the world. The move also shows the active and pragmatic style of China's new leadership in foreign affairs, Sheng added.