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Developing countries merit increased representation on Security Council – China

Developing countries merit increased representation on Security Council – China

Developing countries deserve greater representation on the United Nations Security Council, the Foreign Minister of China, one of five permanent members on that body, said today.

Developing countries deserve greater representation on the United Nations Security Council, the Foreign Minister of China, one of five permanent members on that body, said today.

Yang Jiechi told the General Assembly’s annual high-level debate that reform proposals should be based on the widest possible consensus.

“Security Council reform should prioritize increasing the representation of developing countries and give small- and medium-sized countries more opportunities to participate in decision-making,” he said.

He also called for the UN Human Rights Council to build on its recent reforms “and become a platform for dialogue and cooperation rather than an arena of political confrontation.”

On the issue of climate change, he said China is “adopting a series of laws and regulations and setting goals of reducing energy intensity and increasing forest cover.”

He pledged that China would “take an active part in international cooperation in climate change and play its part in protecting the global climate.”

The Foreign Minister also said China is committed to “a proper settlement of the Darfur issue” and would send a military engineering unit to join the peacekeeping effort there.