Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday called on the United Nations to play a more important role in international affairs as he met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "As the core of international and multilateral organizations and mechanisms, the United Nations has played an irreplaceable part in safeguarding world peace, promoting common development and advancing international cooperation," Hu said during the meeting with the UN chief. Ban is in Beijing for an official visit from Tuesday to Thursday, where he will also attend the opening ceremony of the Fifth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on Thursday.