Chinese FM meets candidate for next UN Secretary-General in Beijing

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Michelle Bachelet, candidate for the next United Nations (UN) secretary-general and former Chilean president, in Beijing on Thursday.

During her meeting with Wang Yi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Bachelet shared her views on global developments and the role of the UN.

She stressed that today's world is increasingly uncertain, and would benefit from more multilateralism.

Bachelet said the UN must be reformed to return to its original mission, uphold the authority of the UN Charter, and advance the three pillars of the United Nations -- peace and security, development, and human rights.

She also reiterated her firm adherence to the one-China principle, praised China's long-term commitment to multilateralism, and expressed readiness to work with China to strengthen the UN's role.

Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said Bachelet's remarks reflect her deep understanding of the role of the UN, and emphasized that China has always been a staunch supporter of the UN.

He also noted that the Security Council meeting in New York last month gave rise to a consensus that the role of the UN should be strengthened in response to the turbulent and changing international landscape.

He said that China is willing to work with all parties to safeguard and strengthen the United Nations.

Wang said the selection of the next UN secretary-general concerns the UN reforms over the next five to 10 years, and concerns the vital interests of the Global South. China will take part in the selection of the next UN secretary-general in a responsible and constructive manner, and will work to promote the United Nations to revitalize its authority and vitality, so that the organization will better adapt to the new circumstances and better cope with new challenges.

Chinese FM meets candidate for next UN Secretary-General in Beijing

Shortages of supplies and personnel hampering a quick response to an ongoing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa are the biggest public concern, according to a recent online survey conducted by the China Global Television Network (CGTN).

The survey was carried out to assess public worries surrounding the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its neighbor Uganda.

According to the survey findings, 31 percent of respondents identified the lack of supplies and personnel delaying a quick response to Ebola control as their primary worry, ranking it highest among the options presented in the poll.

Meanwhile, anxiety regarding the epidemic worsening and the risk of a broader global crisis were tied at 28 percent each. Furthermore, 13 percent of those surveyed expressed their greatest fear that the virus could become more deadly.

The Ebola virus is highly contagious and causes symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, generalized pain or malaise, and in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.

The DRC had reported a total of 344 confirmed cases of Ebola, including 60 deaths, and Uganda a total of 15 confirmed cases, including one death, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday.

WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC a public health emergency of international concern on May 17. The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

The DRC has faced repeated Ebola outbreaks since the virus was first identified near the Ebola River in 1976. The latest Ebola outbreak is the 17th in the DRC since 1976.

Supply, personnel shortages top public concerns over Ebola response: CGTN poll