BEIJING, Nov. 30 -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan will discuss a plan to reform the United Nations Security Council during a visit to China from Dec 4 to 7, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.

 

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan speaks during a news conference in Tbilisi, November 19, 2005. Annan will discuss a plan to reform the United Nations Security Council during a visit to China from Dec 4 to 7, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday. [Reuters]

    "It will be Annan's seventh visit to China since he took office, and the two sides will exchange views on international and regional issues of common interest," Liu Jianchao told a news conference.

    Annan and Chinese leaders would also discuss proposals to reform the Security Council to make it more representative, Liu said, sidestepping a question on whether China and Japan would hold talks on the issue next month.

    "China supports reform of the U.N. Security Council ... but priority should be given to increasing the representation of developing countries, especially African countries," he said.

    Annan has pushed hard for reform by the end of the year, arguing that the council still reflects the balance of power at the end of World War Two -- China along with the United States, Russia, Britain and France are permanent members with veto power.

    The council currently has 10 non-permanent seats that rotate for two-year terms, in addition to the five permanent members.

    In August, China threatened to veto a plan to enlarge the Security Council if the reform measure went to a vote.

    China suggested the so-called Group of Four nations -- Japan, India, Germany and Brazil -- withdraw a proposal to add 10 new seats to the body. Enditem

(Source: China Daily/Reuters)