Helsinki - Leaders of China and the European Union (EU) attending the EU-China Summit on Saturday emphasized the necessity to reform the United Nations system, saying the world body should play a central role in multilateral international system.

In a joint statement issued after the summit attended by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen of Finland, whose country holds the six-month EU presidency, and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, the two sides voiced their strong support for "a fair, just and rules-based multilateral international system with the UN playing a central role."

The statement said the reform of the United Nations "would improve the UN's ability to cope with new and existing threats and challenges."

The two sides expressed their willingness to engage in achieving progress on the reform by consensus and said they will be committed to ensuring full implementation of the outcome of the 2005 UN World Summit, including by cooperating with the newly established UN bodies such as the Peace Building Commission and the Human Rights Council.