Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Li Baodong (R) welcomes UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York, the United States, Sept 29, 2011. The Chinese permanent delegation to the UN held a reception on Thursday to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 40th anniversary of China's returning to the UN. [Photo/Xinhua]

UNITED NATIONS - Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Li Baodong said here Thursday that China will further enhance its close cooperation with the United Nations in various areas so as to make contribution to world peace and common prosperity.

Li's remarks came as the Chinese UN Mission held a reception in New York to mark the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the 40th anniversary of the Restoration of the Lawful Seat of the PRC in the United Nations.

Li said that Chinese people has found a development path that fits China's national conditions since 62 years ago, with China's economic strength, comprehensive national strength and people's living standards all reaching a new high.

However, China is still facing up with difficulties and challenges in the process of realizing comprehensive modernization despite remarkable achievements, he said, adding that to unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development and concentrate on improving people's lives will remain the basic tasks for the Chinese government for a long time.

Hailing China's restoration of the lawful seat in the United Nations in 1971 "an epoch-making event that opens a new chapter in the relationship between China and the world body," Li said the past four decades have witnessed a history of gradual development of bilateral cooperation from the primary to the profound.

As a permanent member of the Security Council and the biggest developing country in the world, China has always safeguarded the purposes and principles of the UN charter, and actively promoted the leading role of the United Nations in international affairs, Li said.

"China will continue to strengthen cooperation with the United Nations in various areas, making its own contribution to world peace and common prosperity," the ambassador said.

Expressing his congratulations, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said China has promoted vision and wisdom for a harmonious and peaceful world.

"In that regard, I highly commend the path China has taken with the strategy of open, independent, cooperative and common development of the world," Ban told reporters at the reception.

He also congratulated the successful launching of Tiangong-1, China's first space lab module, on Thursday.

He expressed the hope that "China will make huge contribution to the United Nations and leave a big footprint for the well-being of humanity."On October 25, 1971, the 26th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority and decided to restore the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations.

Some 600 officials and diplomats attended Thursday's reception, including UN General Assembly President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro and Under-Secretary-General Sha Zukang.