China's UN envoy: Council reform must end over-representation of developed countries
In short
China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, told a UN General Assembly plenary session on 22 October that the final aim of Security Council reform is to change the over-representation of developed countries. He set out three points: more representation for developing countries, a "package" solution reached by consensus, and intergovernmental negotiations as the main channel.
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China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, spoke on 22 October at a General Assembly plenary session reviewing Security Council reform. China News Service and Xinhua reported that he stressed the final aim of reform is to change the over-representation of developed countries. [ 2 , 3 ]
Fu said the international situation is turbulent and changing, geopolitical conflicts are dragging on and escalating, and crises and challenges keep emerging. He said member states generally expect the UN to play a bigger role and urgently hope the Security Council will take up its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. China supports necessary and reasonable reform to raise the Council's authority and efficiency, he said. [ 2 , 3 ]
His first point was that reform must focus on raising the representation and voice of developing countries. Fu said the Council must reflect international political reality and give more developing countries with independent foreign policies, and small and medium-sized countries, a chance to take part in its decisions. He said the historical injustice suffered by Africa should be corrected, with priority special arrangements for African demands. The final aim, he said, is to change a Council makeup that is imbalanced between North and South, long dominated by a single camp, and over-represents developed countries. [ 2 , 3 ]
His second point was that member states' consensus must be respected and a "package" solution pursued. Fu said Council reform is a systematic project in which the five categories of issues are all indispensable. He said that forming a "single reform plan" hastily before clear consensus, forcing the start of text-based negotiations, demanding an artificial timetable, or taking a "step-by-step" or "piecemeal" approach would only deepen differences and would not serve the long-term development of the UN or member states' common interests. [ 2 , 3 ]
His third point was that the main channel of intergovernmental negotiations must be upheld. Fu called the negotiations the only legitimate platform for member states to discuss Council reform and said China firmly opposes any attempt to start anew elsewhere. He said China had noted growing interest among member states in regional, rotating seats, and that compared with plans to expand the "two categories" of seats, this idea is fairer and more democratic. China hopes this session's negotiations will continue to explore new reform ideas, he said. [ 2 , 3 ]
Fu added that China is willing to keep working with others in this session's negotiations, with mutual respect, candid exchange and equal consultation. Yicai published a headline carrying the same message about the over-representation of developed countries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The remarks, carried by two official Chinese outlets and a business outlet, set out China's stated position in the General Assembly's discussion of Security Council reform. The documents report no reaction from other member states.
Key facts
- Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, spoke on 22 October at a General Assembly plenary session reviewing Security Council reform. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Fu said the final aim of reform is to change a Council makeup that is imbalanced between North and South, long dominated by a single camp, and over-represents developed countries. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Fu said Africa's historical injustice should be corrected and African demands given priority special arrangements. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Fu said reform must be settled through a "package" solution covering all five categories of issues, and opposed a hasty "single reform plan", an artificial timetable or a step-by-step approach. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Fu called intergovernmental negotiations the only legitimate platform for discussing Council reform and said China firmly opposes any attempt to start anew elsewhere. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Fu said more member states have expressed interest in regional, rotating seats, which he called fairer and more democratic than plans to expand the "two categories" of seats. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Fu Cong spoke on Security Council reform at the General Assembly plenary on 22 October and stressed that the final aim is to change the over-representation of developed countries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- China supports necessary and reasonable Council reform to raise its authority and efficiency, according to Fu's speech as published by China News Service and Xinhua. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Which member states or proposals Fu referred to in opposing a "single reform plan", text-based negotiations, a timetable and a step-by-step approach. The published text does not name any country, group or proposal.
- How other member states responded to the speech. None of the documents report reactions.
- What Yicai reported beyond the headline. The Yicai document contains only the headline and a summary identical to it.