BEIJING -- China on Thursday said UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has helped strengthen cooperation between China and the United Nations during his ten-year tenure at the helm of the world body.

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"Annan has made persistent efforts to push forward and enhance the UN's role in safeguarding peace and stability of the world as well as promote world development during the past ten years," Qin Gang, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, said at a regular press conference.

China highly appreciates Annan's work to strengthening cooperation between China and the UN, Qin said.

Annan will end his job as Secretary General on December 31st. He will be replaced by the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea(ROK) Ban Ki-moon, who will take the oath of office on Thursday morning.

Ban will formally take over his duties as the UN chief on January 1, 2007.

"Annan is a good friend of China. We wish him a smooth and pleasant life and work in future," Qin said,