Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday sent a congratulatory message to Antonio Guterres over the former Portuguese prime minister's reappointment as the secretary-general of the United Nations.

Xi sent a separate message to Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa over Guterres' reappointment. 

As the most universal, representative and authoritative international organization, the UN plays an important role in international affairs, Xi said.

China expects Secretary-General Guterres to continue to fulfill responsibilities under the UN Charter, uphold an objective and unbiased stance, and firmly safeguard multilateralism, Xi added. He called on the UN chief to make greater contributions for maintaining world peace and promoting common development.