The Hindu : International / India & World : China calls G-4 move `hasty'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 10, 2005

International

International - India & World

China calls G-4 move `hasty'

P.S. Suryanarayana

"It will undermine the interests of developing countries" "

SINGAPORE: China has taken exception to the "hasty" move by the Group of Four — India, Japan, Germany and Brazil — to press for the reform of the United Nations Security Council "without a broad consensus" among all the members of the global organisation.

Responding to a question, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, Liu Jianchao, said in Beijing earlier this week that Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing had already emphasised that "such a move is not conducive to the solidarity of the U.N. members."

Quoting Mr. Li, Mr. Liu said "When [he] talked over phone with the African Union Commission Chairperson and Nigerian Foreign Minister not long ago, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing made clear China's position on the plan of the Group of Four. He said that the reform of the U.N. Security Council bears on the common interests of all the members and the immediate interest of all parties."

Elaborating the Minister's views, Mr. Liu said: "We should give play to the role of democracy and conduct [the reform process] through consultation so as to reach a broad consensus. Without a broad consensus upon the reform plan among all parties, the Group of Four hastily proposed a draft resolution and tried to force a vote on it."

Such a move "runs counter to the original intention of [effecting] the U.N. reform and will undermine the interests of developing countries." The Minister further said that "when all parties are significantly divided on the plan proposed by the Group of Four, we urge all member countries to adhere to the principle of consultation and consensus to continue to seek a plan which takes into account the interests of all parties and wins broad support through democratic and transparent discussions."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News Update

Stories in this Section

Israeli court backs Gaza pullout plan

Development is bedrock of security, says China

Nuclear bomb blueprints vanish

U.K. anti-terror laws under fire

Bush hints at closure of Guantanamo

Poor response to Zimbabwe Opposition's strike call

Malaria may doom plans for Africa

Russia rejects demand on Uzbek riots

China calls G-4 move `hasty'

India committed to Sri Lanka's sovereignty and territorial integrity

A gaggle of new entries