Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met in New York on Tuesday with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss major international issues, including the world's economic and financial situation and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Maintaining world peace and stability, safeguarding international economic and financial stability, and fulfilling the MDGs are three major issues the world is facing today, Wen said at the meeting.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) shakes hands with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York, the United States, September 23, 2008. [Liu Jiansheng/Xinhua] 

"Poverty is a major factor for regional instability," Wen said, adding the newly-occurred turbulences in the international economic and financial situation, sharp increases in oil prices and food supply shortage have made things more difficult for the countries concerned.

The Chinese premier arrived in New York Tuesday morning for a three-day visit. He is scheduled to attend a high-level UN meeting for the MDGs on Thursday.

Wen said he hopes the UN meeting will arouse positive responses from around the world and will contribute to boosting fulfillment of the MDGs.

He reaffirmed that the Chinese government will continue to support the work of the UN chief, to abide by the purposes and the principles of the UN Charter and to play an active role in the UN.

Expressing his gratitude to support that China has offered to him and the UN, Ban spoke highly of the efforts that China has made in the work of disaster relief following the devastating earthquake hitting southwest China's Sichuan Province on May 12, and in successfully hosting the Beijing Olympics.

Wen's personal presence in the high-level UN meeting for the MDGs will be quite significant to the UN and other member states, the UN chief said, adding he is expecting Wen and leaders of other countries to share China's experience in realizing economic and social development and in fulfilling the MDGs at the meeting.

Earlier in the day, Wen met with New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

Wen said as a US economic, financial and cultural center, New York has always been in the forefront in the nongovernmental exchanges between the two countries.

Wen said he wishes the New York City will increase exchange and cooperation with China and continue to play an active role in promoting mutual understanding between the Chinese and American peoples and the development of China-US relations.

Bloomberg said the New York City would like to have more contacts with Chinese cities.

(Xinhua News Agency September 25, 2008)