BEIJING, May 1 -- Japan stepped up its campaign Friday for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, saying the world body's key decision-making organ needs to be more representative.

    Japan's minister for foreign affairs Nobutaka Machimura spoke to a meeting of business people and academics in New York.

    "The government of Japan has already advocated the importance of the UN reform, and said it is ready to carry out its constructive role on the international stage even more effectively as a permanent member of the Security Council, " said Japan's minister for foreign affairs Nobutaka Machimura at a meeting of business people and academics in New York.

    Japan is one of four nations seeking permanent seats on the Security Council which plan to present a resolution within weeks for reform of the Council. The other three are Germany, Brazil and India.

    In its current form, the Security Council has five permanent members with veto power -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - as well as 10 seats reserved for countries to serve for two-year terms.

    UN member states have wrangled with Security Council reform for more than a decade.

    They cannot agree on whether to add permanent seats to the 15-member body or create a new tier of semi-permanent seats.

    Machimura in his speech on Friday stressed Japan's relationship with the US and China as well as South Korea which helps regional stability.

    "What is important is that the stable relationship among Japan, the United States, China, and South Korea forms the very core of regional cooperation. This is, indeed, indispensable for ensuring peace and prosperity throughout the entire Asia-Pacific region," he said. 

    Machimura's eight-day visit will include talks in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The topics will range from Japans bid for a UN security council permanent seat to the Korean Nuclear Issue.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)