BEIJING - China supports the United Nations (UN) in carrying out reforms and playing an increasingly more important role in international affairs, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei said Thursday.

Hong made the remarks at a regular news briefing, where he was asked to comment on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's recent appointment of a senior UN official to lead a new reform team.

"China has noticed related reports. China appreciates and supports Ban's efforts to enhance the construction of the UN reform mechanism," Hong said.

"China will continue to support the UN in carrying out reforms to improve efficiency, enhance authority and play a more important role in international affairs," Hong said.

Ban announced Tuesday that he has appointed UN Assistant Secretary-General Atul Khare, an Indian national, to lead a team that will implement an agenda of reforms aimed at streamlining and improving the efficiency of the world body.

Khare will lead the Change Management Team at the UN, working with both departments and offices within the UN Secretariat and with other bodies in the UN system and the UN's 192 member states.

Khare, 52, has served since May 1, 2010 as the assistant secretary-general and deputy to the head of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

Prior to assuming those functions, he was the special representative of the UN secretary-general for Timor-Leste and head of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste from December 2006 to December 2009.