Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, October 30, 2003
China says UN Security Council should be expanded
China supports the reform and expansion of the UN Security Council, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue Thursday at a regular press conference.
China supports the reform and expansion of the UN Security Council, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue Thursday at a regular press conference.
Zhang said the UN Security Council's formation should give priority to developing countries, as many had become UN members since the United Nations was founded more than 50 years ago.
The details of how to expand the UN Security Council should be discussed by all UN members, Zhang said.
The issue of UN reform has been put on the UN agenda. At the UN General Assembly this year, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan offered his proposal on UN reform, including the UN Security Council reform.
China will actively join in the discussion on UN reform, Zhang said.
Chinese envoy's Mideast tour
The FM spokeswoman briefed the media on Chinese Middle East special envoy's visit to relevant countries.
Zhang said that Chinese envoy Wang Shijie visited Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Israel from Oct. 19-29, adding that this was Wang's third Middle East tour and another of China's diplomatic efforts to promote the Middle East peace process.
According to Zhang, Wang during his visit met and exchanged views with prominent politicians from the six countries and the United Nations Secretary-General's representative in southern Lebanon.
Wang expressed concern over the current tension in the region, and tried to persuade relevant sides to stop violent conflicts and resume peace talks as soon as possible, said Zhang.
She said the special envoy had stressed that "violence for violence" would do no good to either the Arabs or Israel, and called on all sides concerned to exercise restraint, stop revenges, cooperate with peace efforts of the international community, resume all the talks at an early date, and implement the "road map" peace plan.
Zhang added that China's position and peace efforts had won praise from all sides.