President to Attend UN Millennium Summit

Chinese President Jiang Zemin will leave for New York on September 4 to attend the UN Millennium Summit scheduled from September 6 to 8.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao made the announcement here today.

The topic of the summit will be "the role of the United Nations in the 21st century", and a summit among the permanent members of the Security Council of the UN will also be held during the event, according to Zhu.

Under the general trend of multipolarization of the world and the economic globalization, new opportunities and challenges continue to emerge, Zhu said.

He said that some important strategic issues, such as the direction of the UN, the position and role of the UN in establishing a new international political and economic order, concern the practical interests of various countries, and therefor, are closely watched by all countries.

In this sense, the Millennium Summit is an important event for the United Nations, Zhu said.

Zhu noted that more than 160 state and government heads will participate in the event.

China is one of the founding members of the UN and one of the permanent members of the Security Council of the organization, Zhu said.

He stressed that the China's participation in the Summit with Jiang leading the delegation demonstrates the great importance China attaches to the international organization.

The spokesman said that Jiang will deliver an important speech at the Millennium Summit and exchange views with leaders of other countries on issues of peace-keeping operations, promoting development, establishing international political and economic order, and strengthening the role of the UN.

He said that Jiang will also attend a summit among members of the permanent members of the Security Council and make a speech on maintaining international peace and security.

Zhu said that Jiang will meet with and exchange views with leaders of other countries present at the meeting on bilateral ties and major international and regional issues of common concern.



People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/