China and Japan discuss UN reform By Le Tian (China Daily) Updated: 2005-12-27 06:08
Vice-Foreign Minister Qiao Zonghuai Monday reiterated China's position in the
reform of the United Nations (UN), saying "priority (of the reform) should be
given to increasing the representation of developing countries especially
African countries."
Qiao made the remarks when meeting with Japan's Deputy Minister for Foreign
Policy Masaharu Kono in Beijing.
"Top of the agenda for the UN reform should be to promote the progress of the
regions that have arrived at a consensus among member states, with a particular
emphasis on the issue of development," Qiao said.
The decision must be made on the basis of a consensus among member states
after sufficient consultation and discussion, he added.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has pushed forward the reform of the Security
Council, arguing that the council still reflects the balance of power seen at
the end of World War II.
The council currently has 10 non-permanent seats that rotate for two-year
terms, in addition to the five permanent members China, the United States,
Russia, Britain and France who have veto power.
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 its efforts failed at a UN General Assembly session in September when
these countries abandoned plans to seek a vote on their proposal after failing
to win sufficient support.
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 United States.
"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 after Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi took office in 2001 and began his annual visits to a Tokyo shrine for
the war dead which China, along with other Asian countries, see as a symbol of
Japan's past militarism.
Despite repeated requests by Beijing and Seoul to stop the pilgrimages,
Koizumi visited the Yasukuni Shrine in October, triggering a further freeze in
diplomatic ties.
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