New York

20 March 2013

Readout of Secretary-General’s telephone conversation with Chinese President

Ban Ki-Moon, Former Secretary-General

The Secretary-General spoke today (Wednesday 20 March New York time, Thursday 21 March Beijing time) by telephone with H.E. Mr. Xi Jinping, the President of the People’s Republic of China.

The Secretary-General congratulated the President on his recent election and expressed his gratitude for China’s strong support for the United Nations.

The Secretary-General said he was confident that cooperation between China and the United Nations would continue to grow because China’s path of peaceful development had many common elements with his own agenda on durable peace, conflict prevention, sustainable development and human rights for all. He noted in particular common efforts to support Africa’s peace and development efforts.

The Secretary-General said he was very concerned about mounting tensions on the Korean peninsula. He commended China’s constructive role in the Security Council in dealing with matters relating to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. He said he counted on China’s continued leadership on this matter.