John R. Bolton (Reuters photo)

 WASHINGTON, April 11 (Xinhuanet) -- US veteran diplomat John R. Bolton, nominated controversially by President George W. Bush as US ambassador to the United Nations last month, pledged Monday to "work with all" to build a strong and more effective world body.

    In testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, outspoken Bolton said the UN has both "strengths and weaknesses." He said that if confirmed, he would try to help forge a stronger relationship between the US and the UN, "which depends critically on American leadership."

    Bolton, 56, said he aims not only to promote American interests at the world body but to enhance the ability of the UN to serve all its members.

    "Americans have the skills and training to contribute significantly to making the UN more efficient, effective and accountable," he said.

    Bolton served during Bush's first term as under-secretary of state for arms control. He has been one of his party's strongest conservative voices on foreign affairs issues.

    He is a sharp critic of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and other hardline regimes and has slammed the UN on many occasions. He was also a strong advocate of the US-led invasion to Iraq after the US failed to win the UN Security Council's approval for the action. Enditem