President Xi hints at more assertive foreign policy
President advises Ban Ki-moon that China, as a permanent member of the Security Council, should wield more influence in global affairs
When President Xi Jinping held talks with UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon in Beijing on Wednesday he urged the United Nations to be "fair and just", indicating that Beijing would like to play a more prominent role in international affairs.
Xi and Ban discussed the conflict in Syria and North Korea's nuclear programme, but Xi also outlined China's expectations of the UN, calling on its members to scrap the "zero-sum mindset".
The UN should "uphold the principles of impartiality and righteousness" and "speak in a fair manner", Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.
In remarks that showed China's growing assertiveness in foreign policy, Xi said China bore heavy responsibilities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, but the nation "has the capability" to fulfil the mission.
China would step up its efforts to promote peaceful settlement of international disputes, and work with other nations to tackle climate change, Xi added.
Observers said Xi's remarks signalled a shift in China's diplomatic tactics, with his predecessors having always stressed that China was still a developing country and was reluctant to take on more responsibilities.
"The remarks indicated that China does not want to be the supporting actor in global affairs, and it wants to be in leading positions," said Zhao Junjie , an international relations specialist at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
