BEIJING - The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the Shanghai 2010 Expo among other big events have pushed China into a more prominent position, and China is ready to assume due international obligations, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said.

The events were influential historically and China has been playing an important role in recent years in safeguarding peace and advancing the development of the world.

In August 2008, athletes from over 200 countries and regions awed the world with their talent at the 16-day 29th summer Olympic Games, which were praised by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge as "truly exceptional".

Heads of state, government leaders and royalty from more than 100 countries visited the Chinese capital to enjoy the Games and cheer for the athletes.

This year, more than 3.5 million foreigners visited the Shanghai Expo including nearly 100 heads of state and government leaders.

Yang regarded the Expo as a golden opportunity for "all-round diplomacy" with many foreigners having the chance to know more about China and Chinese people.

Besides the events, China managed to tackle the international financial crisis, said the foreign minister, adding that Chinese efforts have brought about confidence in the world's economic recovery.

China also played a positive and constructive role in countering global warming, Yang added.

The Chinese government has announced it will reduce the intensity of carbon emissions per unit of gross domestic product by 40-45 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels. It has also made continuous efforts to reach an agreement at the UN climate change conferences.

Yang said the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was another event of historical significance. The summit was held in November 2006 in Beijing and focused on ways to grow China-Africa relations while promoting unity and cooperation among developing countries.

FOCAC was established in Beijing in October 2000 to boost China-Africa cooperation in various fields.

Progress in China-Africa relations has been made over the past 10 years, partly due to the forum. China's business activities in Africa have boosted local economies and infrastructure and created jobs while improving people's living conditions.

For instance, bilateral trade rocketed from $10.6 billion in 2000 to $91 billion in 2009, making China Africa's biggest trade partner.

The foreign minister said China's development is not only in the interests of the Chinese people - it is in the interests of the whole world.

With its sound economic and social foundations, China enjoys the advantage of being able to mobilize resources for big undertakings and is ready to assume its due international obligations, Yang said.

"What we are striving for is equality for developing countries in international affairs and a fair and rational international order," he added.