China urged to increase UN role

China pledged on Friday to continue its support of United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations, but a high-ranking army official said the missions will also need major reforms to meet new challenges.

General Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff of Chinese Armed Forces, said UN peacekeeping operations face difficulties in policymaking, financial guarantees and planning and management when he met with Alain Le Roy, UN under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations.

Chen said during their meeting in Beijing reforms of peacekeeping operations must be not only "active and creative", but "stick to basic principles". He did not elaborate.