UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (L) shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as they pose for photographers upon arrival for a meeting at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, June 20, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday and reiterated China's support for the international organization.

Li hailed the UN's important role in safeguarding world peace and promoting common prosperity over the past six decades and more. He said the purpose and principles stipulated in the UN's Charter are a cornerstone of contemporary international relations as well as the "greatest common factor" for all human beings to achieve development and counter challenges.

The purpose and principles should be firmly safeguarded, said the Chinese premier.

Li said China always upholds that the UN play a bigger role in international affairs, is ready to participate in UN-related issues and make joint efforts with parties concerned to address regional problems, including the Syrian issue.

Li said China, as a developing country, gives priority to development and attaches importance to sustainable development as well.

"While the issue of global development is yet to be addressed, with anti-poverty and many other tasks pending, the problem of sustainable development has also become pressing," Li said.

The international community should balance development and sustainable development to make the two interact in a favorable way, he said, adding that China will work with the UN to help attain the Millennium Development Goals and make development benefit all the people in the world.

During the meeting, Ban lauded China's endorsement for the UN and the country's important contribution to addressing global challenges, promoting sustainable development and resolving regional problems.