The 59th United Nations General Assembly opens on Tuesday. Over a hundred issues have been crammed onto the agenda, but suggested reforms to the world body, particularly to the Security Council, are expected to be the main focus.

Calls for the reform of the Security Council are not new. A decade of debate has centered on one issue: the need to enlarge the number of permanent members of the UN Security Council. Currently, the five countries with that power are the United States, China, Britain, France and Russia.

Three countries are strong contenders for entry to the Security Council.

As a non-permanent member, Germany has earned a reputation as a constructive and reliable partner. What's more, Germany is the third largest contributor to the UN budget.

India's bid for a permanent seat relates primarily to the country's size, its population, its position in Asia, and its growing military clout.

As the second largest contributor to UN funds, Japan is also scrambling for a permanent place at the table.

Although all three countries have shown their willingness to play a crucial role in the UN, winning a permanent seat on the Security Council will not be easy. Any reform to the Council needs the approval of two thirds of member countries.

Zheng Qirong, Professor of China's Foreign Affairs University, said: "On the question of reform, opinion is divided. For example, Pakistan is against India, and Italy objects to Germany. Also, the attitude of the United States is crucial. At first, Washington was in favor of Germany. But after Germany joined France in opposing the Iraq war, at least one US official is on record as opposing Germany's entry. Meanwhile, Washington continues to back Japan, which is in line with its global interests."

Brazil, as one of the world's fastest developing countries, is also yearning for permanent membership. If its application were approved by the General Assembly, the voice of South American countries would be much stronger.

At a time of widespread doubt over its relevance, this year marks the 60th anniversary of the UN. But recent events, such as the return of sovereignty in Iraq, are proving that the world body still has an important role to play. To increase its effectiveness reform may well be necessary. But, it's going be a tough a complex process.

Source: CCTV.com