PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)'s underlying goals, to give voice to the developing world and to advance a just and democratic international order, remains as relevant as ever, the United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan said Monday.

    Despite the tremendous changes in the world since the movement was established 45 years ago, the NAM's goals have remained relevant, Annan said in a message to the NAM Coordinating Bureau (NAM-CoB) Ministerial Meeting here.

    Annan's message was delivered by his representative, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General Vijay Nambiar, at the opening ceremony held in the Malaysian administrative center of Putrajaya.

    "You (the NAM) are fighting poverty and underdevelopment. You are concerned about the spread of infectious diseases and environmental degradation. You are committed to ending conflict and to securing your independence, as well as to checking the spread of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction," said the UN secretary-general.

    He said the NAM's support for the recent peace agreement in Sudan and elections in Haiti illustrates the NAM plays a crucial and constructive role in promoting peace and stability in the world.

    Annan expressed his hope that NAM will continue to work together with the UN, in a bid to "make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most, the peoples whom the Non-Aligned Movement represents."

    About 90 member countries of the movement sent delegates for the ministerial meeting themed "Towards a More Dynamic and Cohesive NAM: Challenges of the 21st Century".

    The meeting prepares for the 14th Conference of the Heads of States of the NAM, or the 14th NAM Summit, to be held in Havana, Cuba this September.

    Currently, Malaysia chairs the 114-member movement. Enditem