China in frequent communication with India, other G-4 nations

Beijing, Sep 3 (PTI) China has said it is engaged in
"frequent communication" with India, Japan, Brazil and
Germany, the G-4 countries seeking permanent seats on the UN
Security Council, regarding the reform of the world body's top
organ.
China wants greater representation of developing
countries within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC),
specifically African nations, Assistant Chinese Foreign
Minister Wu Hailong said.
Beijing supports rational and necessary reform of the
UNSC in order to make it better reflect the current situation
of international politics, Wu said, addressing the fourth
Lanting Forum at the Foreign Ministry here on Friday.
He said China has actively participated in discussions
and intergovernmental negotiations relating to UNSC reform and
maintains frequent communication with related countries such
as Japan, India, Brazil and Germany on the issue.
The four countries have formed a grouping called G-4 to
campaign for their inclusion as permanent members of the UNSC.
"We value the roles and influence of such countries that
are major but currently not permanent members of the UNSC," he
said, adding that China hopes that these countries will play
bigger roles in the UN.
He believes that through full negotiation a package that
most countries could accept would be reached and eventually
the reform of the UNSC would be achieved, state-run Xinhua
news agency quoted him as saying.
China, the veto-wielding member of UNSC, unlike the other
four permanent UNSC members -- US, UK, France and Russia --
has not announced its support for India's bid in open. A top Chinese diplomat, however, had conveyed to CPI(M)
leader Sitaram Yechury in July that Beijing had no "objection"
to India's bid for the UNSC permanent membership but was
firmly opposed to Japan's bid for the same due to "historical
baggage."
Yechury said that during his meeting with Dai Bingguo,
the top Chinese official told him that China had a problem to
come out in support of India as it had become a part of the
G-4 group to campaign for its UNSC bid.
"For us there is historical baggage with Japan and China
can never accept Japan's membership," Yechury quoted Dai as
saying after their meeting.
"He (Dai) bent over backwards to explain to me saying
that they are not against India being there (UNSC) at all,"
Yechury told the Indian media.
Analysts believed that another reason why China was yet
to come out with its stand was that it could upset its close
ally Pakistan, which was firmly opposed to India's bid.
Wu, in his speech, called on the UNSC to improve its
authority and efficiency, so it can better cope with global
threats and challenges and better perform the duty endowed by
the UN Charter.
He said the reform package of the UNSC should be
comprehensive and it should take into account the interests of
all parties.
With regard to the UN's role in the future, he suggested
it should continue efforts to push for peaceful solutions to
troublesome issues and remain committed to international
cooperation on development while promoting social development
and the progress of human rights.
Wu hoped the UN would uphold the authority and efficacy
of international regimes on arms control and disarmament and
proliferation prevention, continue to uphold international
judicial justice and advance reasonable and necessary reforms.