China announces support for Secretary-General's second term in office: UN

China, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, today announced its intention to support Secretary-General Kofi Annan's bid for a second term in office, a UN spokesman reported.

Spokesman Fred Eckhard said the Secretary-General had received a letter, dated April 20, from Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, formally extending China's support for a second term, as well as for efforts to enhance the role of the United Nations in the new century.

With its announcement, China joined a growing number of countries which have endorsed the Secretary-General, including the United States -- another permanent Council member -- as well as African, Latin American and Caribbean and Asian regional groups.

Mr. Annan's five-year term of office, which began on 1 January 1997, is set to expire at the end of this year.