President Xi Jinping expressed China's readiness on Saturday to enhance cooperation with the United Nations and support its central role in international affairs, vowing to uphold genuine multilateralism.

China would like to work with the UN to jointly safeguard world peace and promote development and prosperity, Xi said when meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the port city of Tianjin.

Xi added that China will remain a reliable partner of the world body.

History has revealed that multilateralism, solidarity and cooperation are the right answer to global challenges, Xi said.

The president called for reinvigorating the UN's authority and vitality under the new circumstances so that it can serve as the main platform for countries to coordinate their actions and jointly tackle challenges.

Noting that China injects stability and certainty into the world amid profound changes unseen in a century, Xi pledged to create new opportunities for the world through China's new development.

Guterres said that the UN is ready to strengthen cooperation with China to promote world multipolarity, enhance the representation of developing countries and ensure that the UN can play a greater role in international affairs.

ZHOU JIN