High-ranking Foreign Ministry officials from the United Nations Security Council's five permanent members held a consultation in Beijing Tuesday on UN reform and topics being discussed by the Security Council.   

The officials are director-generals of the International Department of the five countries' foreign ministries.

Liu Jieyi, director of the International Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said they held "wide and in-depth" discussions on UN reform, UN's high-level activities this September as well as some hot issues deliberated by the Security Council.

As to the reform of the Security Council, China reiterated its support for the reform. Liu said that the aim of the reform is to enhance UN Security Council's capability of safeguarding international peace and security, raise its working effectiveness and maintain its authority.

Liu said that China supports the enlargement of the Security Council, with priority given to increasing the representation of the developing countries in it.

As the expansion of the Security Council involves the vital interests of all concerned, member states should try to reach wide consensus through democratic, in-depth discussions. Only a blueprint resulting from consensus can truly help strengthen the Security Council's authority and effectiveness and win broad trust and support from the general membership.

In the long-term interests of the United Nations as a whole, China is not in favor of setting a time limit for the reform and still less of forcing through any "immature proposals" lacking consensus in the form of a vote.

(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2005)