The new UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will definitely inject some Asian culture into the working of the world body, under-secretary-general for General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services Chen Jian has said.

He described Ban as "a man of modesty, courtesy who maintains a low profile." He is "open-minded" and ready to listen to others, Chen told a radio program recently.

He represents Asian culture and "I believe he surely will bring about changes in UN's work", Chen said.

The biggest challenge for the Republic of Korea's Ban is how to help establish more harmonious relations among the UN members as well as between the UN members and the secretariat.

Wang Yusheng, a former Chinese diplomat, said Ban was a "flexible yet firm diplomat".

Wang was familiar with Ban when they worked together for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in 1995.

"Many officials were worried that he was 'pro-American' because of his long stint in the United States and that he might be 'too weak and incompetent', but it seems to me he is not that type absolutely," Wang said.

Wang spoke highly of the "flexibility" Ban had showed in pushing for the Osaka Action Agenda to implement the Bogor Declaration in 1995.

Ban's flexibility in making some technical compromises and concerted efforts in negotiations with the United States, Canada and Australia helped conclude a version of the agenda acceptable to the parties, Wang said.

Director-General of United Nations Association of China Pang Sen said Ban's priority would be to restore public confidence in the UN.

Under Ban, the UN is expected to play a bigger role in resolving the nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula and in Iran, Pang said.

A former Chinese Foreign Ministry employee said "Ban's success in the UN secretary-general's election indicated that Asian countries now exhibit a stronger desire to participate in international issues."

Many ordinary people, too, have high hopes on Ban.

A senior manager of Bank of China, Zhu Jun, said as the UN chief, Ban would make Asian countries contribute more to the world body.

(China Daily 01/04/2007 page2)