China said on Wednesday that the
UN Security
Council "does need appropriate and necessary reforms" in order
to adapt itself to the great changes in the international
situation.
The statement came as Shen Guofang, the deputy Chinese permanent
representative to the United Nations was taking the floor at the
plenary session of the General
Assembly. The session discussed the question of equitable
representation on and increase in the membership of the Security
Council, which currently has 15 members.
"Over the past 50 years and more since the inception of the United
Nations, great changes have taken place in the international
situation and the United Nations as well," he said.
"In our view, the Security Council does need appropriate and
necessary reforms in order to adapt itself to these changes and the
needs of the times, and to fulfill more effectively its
responsibility for maintaining international peace and security in
accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter," he
said.
The most notable change in the world body itself over the past five
decades has been the growth of its membership from 51 at the time
of its establishment to the present 189, most of which are
developing countries, making the United Nations truly the most
representative inter-governmental international organization in the
world, he noted.
"Therefore, the overriding priority in the reform of the council is
to correct the imbalance of its composition and increase the
representation of developing countries in accordance with the
principle of equitable geographical distribution so that the
composition of the council will reflect the reality of the
membership of the United Nations," he said.
"Only by doing so can the reform be of practical significance and
conform to the common aspirations and interests of all member
states," he said.
(Xinhua News
Agency November 1, 2001)