Foreign and Military Affairs

Wen leaves for crucial UN meetings

By Wu Jiao and Qin Jize (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-22 09:39

Sino-US ties on the agenda in meeting with Obama

BEIJING - Premier Wen Jiabao left Beijing on Tuesday for two United Nations conferences and a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings.

During his two-day stay in New York, Wen will attend a UN meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the 65th session of the UN General Assembly.

He is also scheduled to meet with US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the UN meetings, as ties between the two countries improve after months of tension.

Experts said that Wen's presence embodies China's support for the role of the UN and reflects its determination to deal with global threats and challenges through collective efforts.

The Sept 20-22 MDGs summit aims to ensure that global poverty is reduced by half by 2015.

As leader of the world's largest developing country, whose commitment to the MDGs carries global significance, Wen is expected to elaborate on China's strategy in attaining the UN's anti-poverty goals and announce further measures to be taken by China to achieve them.

According to Li Baodong, permanent representative of China to the United Nations, Wen will expound upon China's domestic and foreign policies as well as the current international situation in his address to the assembly.

Wen will reiterate that China will unswervingly take a path of peaceful development and adhere to the reform and opening-up policy, Li told reporters last week.

Experts also said that the meetings are an important diplomatic activity that will strengthen the role of the UN.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the organization, yet it faces a variety of problems and challenges.

Jin Canrong, professor at Beijing-based Renmin University of China, said the UN is struggling to meet its ambitious goal of worldwide poverty reduction. But China has given the world body its full support to help it maintain international security and common development, he added.

Zheng Qirong, vice-president of the China Foreign Affairs University, agreed that Wen's aim in attending the conference is to promote and strengthen the central role of the UN, especially in international affairs.

Wen is set to meet with Obama on the sidelines of the general assembly on Thursday.

Ties between Beijing and Washington have been tested in recent months over trade issues as well as a US naval drill with the Republic of Korea. Obama on Monday again urged China to increase the value of its currency.

Though the two countries have had difficulties in the past, experts believe that bilateral exchanges will be beneficial.

Niu Xinchun, a scholar on US studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said that both sides sought better relations.

"Sino-US relations deteriorated over the past several months but the coming meeting shows that both sides are willing to sit down to talk to improve ties".

Wang Haishan contributed to this story.