China ambivalent on G4 call for UNSC reforms

BEIJING: China today came out with a guarded and ambivalent reaction to a call by G4 nations, including India, for their inclusion as permanent members in the UN Security Council, saying it supports the reforms to improve the Council but with widest possible consensus.

"China supports the UN Security Council reform so as to enhance its authority and effectiveness," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a media briefing here.

Hong was replying to question on China's reaction to the G4 countries' --India, Germany, Brazil and Japan - call for UNSC reforms in a fixed time frame and their inclusion as permanent members of the UN's highest body.

Hong said the UNSC reform "should give priority to enhancing the representation and voice of the developing countries".

"The Security Council reform bares on the future of the UN and the interests of the member states therefore it calls for through discussion and broad consultation so as to reach the widest possible consensus," he said without directly responding to G4 countries leaders demand for their inclusion.

China stands ready to work with all parties and find out comprehensive solution that accommodates the interests and concerns of all sides, he said.

China, one of the five veto wielding permanent member of the UNSC, has not spelt out its stand on India's demand for inclusion as permanent member in the UNSC so far except to say that it understands New Delhi's aspiration to play a bigger role in the UN.

The UK, the US, Britain and Russia expressed in principle backing to India's bid for permanent membership in the reformed UNSC.

Hong's comments came after Xi in his meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday called for more active role for UN to address the global issues, skirting the G4 summit's call.