China in frequent communication with India on UNSC reforms

China wants greater representation of developing countries within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), specifically African nations, Assistant Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Hailong said.

Beijing supports rational and necessary reform of the UNSC in order to make it better reflect the current situation of international politics, Wu said, addressing the fourth Lanting Forum at the Foreign Ministry here yesterday.

He said China has actively participated in discussions and intergovernmental negotiations relating to UNSC reform and maintains frequent communication with related countries such as Japan, India, Brazil and Germany on the issue.

The four countries have formed a grouping called G-4 to campaign for their inclusion as permanent members of the UNSC.

"We value the roles and influence of such countries that are major but currently not permanent members of the UNSC," he said, adding that China hopes that these countries will play bigger roles in the UN.

He believes that through full negotiation a package that most countries could accept would be reached and eventually the reform of the UNSC would be achieved, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.

China, the veto-wielding member of UNSC, unlike the other four permanent UNSC members -- US, UK, France and Russia -- has not announced its support for India's bid in open. A top Chinese diplomat, however, had conveyed to CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury in July that Beijing had no "objection" to India's bid for the UNSC permanent membership but was firmly opposed to Japan's bid for the same due to "historical baggage."

Yechury said that during his meeting with Dai Bingguo, the top Chinese official told him that China had a problem to come out in support of India as it had become a part of the G-4 group to campaign for its UNSC bid.

"For us there is historical baggage with Japan and China can never accept Japan's membership," Yechury quoted Dai as saying after their meeting.

"He (Dai) bent over backwards to explain to me saying that they are not against India being there (UNSC) at all," Yechury told the Indian media.

Analysts believed that another reason why China was yet to come out with its stand was that it could upset its close ally Pakistan, which was firmly opposed to India's bid.
Wu, in his speech, called on the UNSC to improve its authority and efficiency, so it can better cope with global threats and challenges and better perform the duty endowed by the UN Charter.

He said the reform package of the UNSC should be comprehensive and it should take into account the interests of all parties.

With regard to the UN's role in the future, he suggested it should continue efforts to push for peaceful solutions to troublesome issues and remain committed to international cooperation on development while promoting social development and the progress of human rights.

Wu hoped the UN would uphold the authority and efficacy of international regimes on arms control and disarmament and proliferation prevention, continue to uphold international judicial justice and advance reasonable and necessary reforms.