China is not in favor of setting an artificial time limit for the UN reform or forcing through the reform proposal by vote, as there remain major differences on the reform proposals owing to the lack of broad consensus.  

Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing made these remarks Tuesday during his talks with Ali Alatas, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's special envoy.

Alatas, also former Indonesian foreign minister, is in Beijing for a two-day visit to coordinate the views of Asian countries with respect to the secretary-general's report on the proposed UN reform.

Alatas is one of the five envoys Annan has named to assist in promoting the comprehensive reform agenda for the UN summit slated for September this year.

On the issue of the UN reform, Li acknowledged, this year is the 60th founding anniversary of the UN, and China supports the world body in carrying out rational and essential reform, so as to give fuller scope in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

The reform of the UN Security Council should be aimed to enable this world body to contribute still more in increasing its efficiency and raising its authority, and its priority should be given to increasing the representation of developing countries in the UN Security Council, Li said.

Alatas said that China, a permanent number of the UN Security Council and the largest developing nation, has been playing an important role in the UN and international affairs, and occupies a vital status on the issue of the UN reform.

Annan presented a report in late March on the UN reform, which offers two models for the Security Council's enlargement. However, members are motivated by different considerations and are deeply divided over the issue.

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2005)