BEIJING, Dec. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- China supports the reform and enlargement of the United Nations Security Council and suggests the Security Council increase its representativeness, especially the representativeness of developing countries.

    "The UN reform is concerned with interests of every member country, and there are still many differences in this regard," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue at a regularnews briefing.

    On Nov. 30, the high-level panel of UN filed a report to the UNsecretary-general Kofi Annan, which offered 101 recommendations onways to reform the world body.

    In regard to the UN Security Council reform, the panel proposedincreasing the number of the members of the Security Council from 15 to 24 to reflect the change of power balance and the UN membership.

    China welcomes the recommendations raised by the panel, and hopes all the UN members could fully exchange views to this end, Zhang said.

    "Any reform scenario should be discussed by the UN members in ademocratic manner so that extensive consensus can be reached," said Zhang.

    China has always supported the UN's authoritative role in settling the current international affairs and relevant issues, which helps deal with the common challenge and problems the international community has to face, Zhang said.

    The 16-member panel was appointed by Annan to identify major threats to humankind in the 21st century and propose ways of reforming the world body. The panel, chaired by former Thai Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun, comprises eminent figures such as former Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen and former US national security advisor Brent Scowcroft. Enditem