China will unswervingly stick to the road of peaceful development, top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo said in New York Wednesday.

"China has been and will always be a positive factor and staunch force in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, " Wu said in a speech delivered at the Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments at the headquarters of the United Nations.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, is among parliament speakers from more than 150 countries and regional parliamentary organizations attending the three-day conference, which opened here Wednesday.

"The Chinese is a peace-loving nation and China is a responsible member of the international community," Wu said. "We focus on economic development, persist in reform and opening up, continue to improve people's living standards, and strive to build a harmonious socialist society," Wu said.

Parliamentarians call for closer ties with UN

Participants at the Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments ended their second day of deliberation on Thursday, calling for closer ties with the United Nations and greater role of parliaments in international relations.

In his speech, Zambian National Assembly Speaker Amusaa Mwanamwambwa said that as elected representatives, parliamentarians would bring an important democratic element to multilateral bodies such as the United Nations. A parliamentary dimension in international politics would complement and support the traditional cooperation among states.

On his part, Ole Kaparo, Speaker of the Kenya National Assembly, said multilateral cooperation in its various forms present an inevitable reality for countries the world over.

The increasing complexity of globalization of developments in the political, economic, social, environmental and cultural fields require parliaments to assume a front-line role in international affairs, he added.

Roberto de Almeida, President of the Angolan National Assembly of the National Assembly, stressed that the United Nations system constitutes an outstanding foundation that allows the international community to face today's tough challenge.

"Within the UN system, and in partnership with regional, governmental and nongovernmental organizations, we can find support for the introduction of the necessary institutional reforms in order to address the challenges of the 21st century," he said.

Their views were echoed by some of their counterparts from the developed world. Swiss National Council President Therese Meyer said her country expects the United Nations to play a more effective role in dealing with major challenges world is facing today,

"We hope that the United Nations will truly fulfill its unique and irreplaceable role," adding that Switzerland has given full support to the efforts of the UN secretary-general and national governments in this regard.

On his part, Canadian Senate Speaker Dan Hays stressed the need to promote international understanding. Since the first parliamentarian summit in 2000, the multilateral system has been tested as never before.

"It is essential for all people and nations to communicate, share ideas, and discuss common aspirations and response to these challenges," he added, noting that no country is immune from tragedy and violence, and all countries can be affected by what goes on half a world away.

Bulent Arinc, Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, said there is a necessity for all UN members to reinforce their commitment to strengthen collective cooperation, noting that a solution must be found to issues that face the world today.