Chinese President Xi Jinping lauded the efforts exerted by outgoing United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki moon to realize international peace, development and prosperity.

The Chinese president also hailed Ban's efforts to enhance cooperation between China and the international organization over the past years, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

During a phone call late Monday, the Chinese president discussed with Ban a host of challenges facing world countries as well as the key role of the UN in this respect.

The Chinese president pledged that China would continue its efforts to back the UN and maintain cooperation with new UN Secretary General Ant?nio Guterres who will assume his post by the beginning of 2017.

Meanwhile, Ban voiced appreciation for China's support for the international organization during his term in office.

Source: MENA