UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari on Friday refuted the hypothesis of "China threat," saying China is playing a positive role in promoting the world peace, security and development.

"Certainly, China can not be ignored. Its political weight, its economic weight and its opening up to the world has to be recognized," said Gambari in an interview with Xinhua.

"But it's really not the fact of emerging as a power, it's not an issue. It's what those emerging power how to use their power for peace, for prosperity, not only of their own, but of their neighboring countries," he added.

"As we see it in the (United Nations) Secretariat, China is playing a positive role in promoting the world peace, security and development."

Gambari, a Nigerian national and the first person from the developing countries to be appointed as under-secretary-general for political affairs, described China as a "champion" in safeguarding the rights and interests of the developing world.

"China works very closely with the Group of 77 to articulate the interests and concern of developing countries, including especially those in Africa," he said.

On the issues of trade, debts and official development assistance, he went on to say, "China associates itself with the positions taken by the Africans and the developing countries on the economic relationship with the developed countries, and I very much appreciate it."

Gambari, who had served as UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's special adviser on Africa before taking the present post, lauded China for its sustained assistance for the economic development in Africa.

"With specific regard to Africa, China is a lot more active in working with the Africans on economic development, particularly in the area of joint ventures," he said, adding that China has cancelled a lot of debt of some highly-indebted African countries.

Gambari also highlighted China's active participation in the UN peacekeeping operations.

"By increasingly participating in the UN peacekeeping operations, most of them in Africa," China is contributing to the global peace and security, he said.

Gambari also cited China's constructive role seeking a solution of the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) through the six-party talks, and China's adherence to the principle of settling disputes by peaceful means.

"China is most in favor of the pacific settlement of disputes, Chapter VI of the UN Charter. It always wants force to be used as a last resort," he said.

Source: Xinhua