UNITED NATIONS, July 25 (Xinhuanet) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Monday called for the cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations to work together more closely for the peace and prosperity of the world.

    Opening the Sixth High-Level Meeting of heads of regional and inter-governmental organizations, Annan said the events that have shaken the international community so profoundly in recent years have produced a crisis of confidence in the ability of the multilateral institutions, including the United Nations and the multilateral system, to "cope with the challenges of our time."

    "Yet moments of crisis carry seeds of opportunity -- offering us the chance to react with a positive spirit and decisive political will," he said. "In this way, we can open the door to action for much-needed renewal of our multilateral institutions."

    The Secretary-General noted that the relationship between the United Nations and regional organizations will also be a critical part of the discussion at the September's World Summit.

    He called for closer cooperation between the United Nations andregional organizations, saying "we need better structured and more efficient channels of cooperation."

    "We need agreements between the United Nations and individual organizations to govern the sharing of information, expertise and resources. We need flexible interaction that recognizes the diversity of mandates and means of regional and other intergovernmental organizations, and avoids a one-size-fits all approach," he added.

    "Let us spare no effort to work more closely and more efficiently together, for the mutual benefit of our organizations and respective Member States, and above all, for the peoples of every region in the world," Annan concluded. Enditem