The Chinese Ambassador to the UN addressed the 191-nation
General Assembly on Wednesday as it met to discuss
Secretary-General Kofi Annan's report on UN reform, released in
March. He reiterated and explained the government's stand on the
issue, particularly with regard to Security Council reform.
Wang Guangya said, "Should the UN be dragged into a divisive
fight over reform, its original purpose would be defeated; such an
outcome would neither bode well for the upholding of the authority
of the Security Council nor for the reform of the UN as a
whole."
He repeated that China opposes setting an "artificial timeframe"
for Security Council reform and rejects deciding the issue through
a vote, rather than building a broad consensus.
Wang said profound changes in the international balance of power
meant that reform was necessary, and should enhance the Security
Council's authority, accountability and transparency.
He said it should address the interests of all countries and
regional groups, not "only the concerns of a small number of
countries," and that China "welcomes any reasonable new options in
this regard."
Wang added that reform of the Security Council needs to serve
the long-term interests of the UN as a whole.
(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2005)