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)