The government issued its first comprehensive position paper on UN reform yesterday, emphasizing multilateralism and urging that it meet the needs of developing countries.
   
All countries should make concerted efforts "to cope with threats and challenges, especially to eliminate their root causes, by collective action," the paper said.
   
The UN plays an "indispensable role" in international affairs and should "continue to be a messenger for the maintenance of peace" and to promote development.
   
It welcomed the high-level panel report on Threats, Challenges and Change, the UN Millennium Project Report and the comprehensive report of the UN Secretary-General.
   
"China is ready to work with all parties to push for positive results in UN reform and success of the summit in September," it said.
   
It stressed that reforms should: enhance multilateralism and the UN's authority; safeguard UN Charter principles; promote development as much as security; accommodate all members' concerns; be based on consultation and broad consensus; and proceed gradually from tackling more manageable problems to thornier ones.

It said it would be undesirable to set a time limit or force a decision on reform.

(Xinhua News Agency June 8, 2005)