Some Chinese experts have said that China's position paper on United Nations reforms issued this week, which emphasizes the development issue, shows the country's "responsible and just attitude" toward handling international affairs.

"Development is the core and substantial point of the paper. This chapter clarifies major problems facing the developing countries, and the proposals China put forth are feasible and to the point," said Chen Xiangyang, an expert with China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, on Thursday.

In the development chapter of the paper, which was issued on Tuesday, China gives ideas on how to handle poverty, disease, environmental problems and disasters. According to the paper, the needs of the developing countries should be addressed, with a view to promoting global balance, progress and cooperation.

Many developing countries couldn't benefit from globalization because of inequalities in economic development and human resources, according to the paper. Currently, there are 49 severely-underdeveloped countries and 1.2 billion extremely poor people in the world.

"China hold that in order to eliminate poverty, it is imperative to realize the UN Millennium Development Goals. This viewpoint is significant," Chen said.

The UN has worked to address the issue of poverty in the pat several years. The UN Millennium Development Goals issued in 2000 promise to cut global poverty by half before 2015. The two reports submitted by UN High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change last year and by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan this March respectively also mentioned the development issue.

"But the two reports are not specific enough. China's explanation of development in the position paper is more detailed and is a contribution to the UN reform," said Jin Yongjian, president of China's UN Association.

Much instability has resulted from poverty, the gap between the rich and poor, and other development issues, said Jin, adding that achieving common progress is a major step toward world peace and stability.

"Safeguarding the interest of more developing countries and adapting the UN to the new international development and security situation are part of the reasons to reform the UN," said Jin.

China has always supported UN reforms. Chinese President Hu Jintao emphasized "the representation of the developing countries in the UN" in April during a meeting with Annan. China's Ambassador to the United Nations Wang Guangya further explained China's stance at the UN General Assembly. China's Assistant to Foreign Minister Shen Guofang also visited Brazil, Mexico, the United States and the UN in late April mainly to discuss the issue of UN reforms.

"China is the first UN member state to issue a specific document on UN reforms. This shows China's active and responsible attitude toward such reforms as a permanent member of the UN Security Council," Jin said.

Source: Xinhua