The Hindu : International : `China backs German bid for U.N. seat'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 08, 2004

International

International

`China backs German bid for U.N. seat'

BEIJING, DEC. 7. The German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, said on Tuesday that the Chinese President, Hu Jintao, endorsed Germany's campaign for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the Chinese leader, Mr. Schroeder said Mr. Hu supported ``bigger responsibility (for Berlin in the Security Council). That means Germany's application for a permanent seat.''

Earlier in the day, Mr. Schroeder pressed the German bid in a speech to business leaders, saying the United Nations must change to ``reflect the realities of the world of today.''

Beijing circumspect

Chinese officials did not immediately comment on Mr. Schroeder's meeting with Mr. Hu. Beijing has said Berlin should play a bigger role in the United Nations, but it hasn't explicitly called for a permanent German place on the Security Council.

China is one of five current permanent members — along with the United States, Britain, France and Russia — with power to veto U.N. actions.

Earlier this month, a U.N. panel presented two options for expanding the Council: adding six new permanent members or creating a new tier of eight semi-permanent members — two each from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.

Germany has joined Brazil, India and Japan in lobbying for permanent seats. A possible Council expansion has been on the U.N. agenda for more than a decade but it has been facing many obstacles. — AP

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