A Foreign Ministry official said in Beijing Monday that China will make "concerted efforts" with Britain to enhance peacekeeping cooperation.

Chen Weixiong, counselor of the Foreign Ministry's Department of International Organizations and Conferences, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of a seminar on Sino-British peacekeeping actions.

Chen said China and Britain had witnessed "fruitful and effective cooperation" in peacekeeping actions in recent years, and it was especially important for the two countries, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, to increase coordination and cooperation in peacekeeping activities and other UN programs.

According to Chen, more than 65,000 peacekeepers from over 100 countries are now working for 16 UN peacekeeping tasks.

"UN peacekeeping missions face increasing demands and challenges," he said.

In order to promote UN peacekeeping actions, Chen said all countries should "maintain dialogue and consultation to achieve positive results in reforms of peacekeeping actions, and should provide financial and personnel support for peacekeeping actions."

British participants at the seminar said Britain and China enjoy the prospect of peacekeeping cooperation, which would help UN peacekeeping actions.

During the two-day seminar, the second of its kind between China and Britain, officials from the two countries will exchange views and share experiences in peacekeeping theories and actions.

(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2005)