The Chinese Ambassador to the UN addressed the 191-nation General Assembly on Wednesday as it met to discuss Secretary-General Kofi Annan's report on UN reform, released in March. He reiterated and explained the government's stand on the issue, particularly with regard to Security Council reform.

Wang Guangya said, "Should the UN be dragged into a divisive fight over reform, its original purpose would be defeated; such an outcome would neither bode well for the upholding of the authority of the Security Council nor for the reform of the UN as a whole."

He repeated that China opposes setting an "artificial timeframe" for Security Council reform and rejects deciding the issue through a vote, rather than building a broad consensus.

Wang said profound changes in the international balance of power meant that reform was necessary, and should enhance the Security Council's authority, accountability and transparency.

He said it should address the interests of all countries and regional groups, not "only the concerns of a small number of countries," and that China "welcomes any reasonable new options in this regard."

Wang added that reform of the Security Council needs to serve the long-term interests of the UN as a whole.

(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2005)