Hu calls for fairer UN decision procedure
By Jiang Zhuqing (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-09-17 07:31

"There is indeed a sense of urgency to the UN reform," Hu said. "The more urgent a task is, the more important it is to keep it moving at the right speed and guard against rashness."

For proposals on which consensus has been or can be reached, decisions may be made promptly for their implementation without delay, Hu said. "But for proposals where major differences still exist, a further exchange of views should be conducted to seek consensus."

Last but not least, reform should be pushed forward on all fronts with clear priorities, Hu said.

"Spanning such areas as security, development, the rule of law and institutional reform, UN reform needs an integrated approach," he said. The views of developing countries, which account for two-thirds of the UN membership, should be taken into full account and their interests truly safeguarded.

Measures to give developing countries greater representation and to help them realize the Millennium Development Goals should be placed at the very top of the reform agenda, the Chinese president said.

"China is firmly committed to UN reform," Hu concluded, adding that the country "stands ready to join hands with other member states in ensuring that the progress of the reform is sound, thus enabling the UN to make greater contributions to the lofty cause of peace and development for mankind."

Hu also held bilateral meetings with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski, Gabonese President El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba and Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson.

(China Daily 09/17/2005 page1)