Both UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President of the UN Security Council Neven Jurica of Croatia extended their welcome on Monday to China's decision to dispatch Chinese naval ships for escorting operations in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters to fight against pirates there, a Chinese envoy said.

Ban and Jurica voiced their appreciation of the Chinese decision in their separate talks with Zhang Yesui, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, during which Zhang briefed the UN leaders on the decision of the Chinese government to send Chinese naval ships to undertake escorting operations in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters.

Zhang had a telephone exchange with Ban, and met with Jurica here on Monday.

Ban said he appreciated the Chinese decision, saying that it means a strong support of China to the joint efforts by the international community to fight against pirates off the Somali coast, and this mirrors a very important role that China is playing in the international affairs.

For his part, Jurica, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the 15-member Security Council for December, described the Chinese decision as a timely move, saying that it is a great support for the work of the Security Council.

During the talks, Zhang said that ships which pass the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters were often attacked or hijacked by pirates there in recent years, piracy has become a serious threat to the international shipping, trade and security.

This outgoing year saw several incidents of Chinese ships or Chinese-funded foreign vessels hijacked by pirates, and the security and safety of Chinese ships and Chinese personnel are severely threatened, Zhang said.

Under the relevant Security Council resolutions and according to relevant steps by countries concerned, the Chinese government decided to send naval fleet for escorting operations in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters, with the main aim to protect Chinese ships and Chinese personnel navigating the waters, and the vessels shipping humanitarian relief goods by such international organizations as the World Food Program, Zhang said.