Vice Foreign Minister Qiao Zonghuai yesterday reiterated China's
official position on the issue of reforming the United Nations, in
part stating: "Priority should be given to increasing the
representation of developing countries, especially African
countries."
Qiao made the remarks while meeting in Beijing with Japan's
Deputy Vice Minister for Foreign Policy, Masaharu Kono.
"At the top of the agenda for UN reform should be promoting the
progress of regions that have arrived at a consensus among member
states, with a particular emphasis on the issue of development,"
Qiao said. He went on to explain that the decision must be made on
the basis of a consensus among member states, after sufficient
consultation and discussion.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has pushed for reform of the
Security Council, arguing that the council still reflects the
balance of power as it was at the close of WWII.
The council currently has 10 non-permanent seats that rotate for
two-year terms, in addition to the five permanent members who hold
veto power: China, the US, Russia, Britain and France.
Japan has been seeking a permanent seat on the UN's most
powerful council, and has worked with Brazil, Germany and India to
try to increase the number of both permanent and non-permanent
members. But Japan's efforts fell short at a UN General Assembly
session in September, when after failing to win sufficient support
those nations abandoned plans to seek a vote on the
proposal.?
That failure prompted calls within Japan's Foreign Ministry to
maintain the so-called Group of Four framework, while also focusing
on Japan's alliance with the US.
"China opposes voting on any reform plan over which there is a
large amount of disagreement between UN members," Qiao said.
Qiao also exchanged views with Kono over other issues of mutual
concern.?
China-Japan relations have soured since Japanese Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi took office in 2001 and began his annual visits
to the Yasukuni Shrine for the war dead. China and other Asian
nations view the shrine as a symbol of Japan's past
militarism.?
Despite repeated requests by Beijing and Seoul to cease the
pilgrimages, Koizumi visited the Yasukuni Shrine in October,
causing a further chilling in diplomatic relations.
(China Daily December 27, 2005)