Thursday, July 7 2005 18:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Beijing: China today (July 7, 2005) said it would oppose the just-tabled G4 draft resolution on UN reform since it had not incorporated Beijing's concerns, especially its opposition to a vote on expanding UN Security Council membership . "We have noted that there is no fundamental change in the draft resolution tabled at the UN by G4 countries." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao sources in Beijing when asked to comment on the tabling of the resolution in the 191-member General Assembly by the G4 comprising India, Brazil, Germany and Japan.

He said China was opposed to any 'forced voting' on a resolution which had a lot of isuues of differences China, which has been in favour developing consensus on the issue, had termed the revised G4 draft as 'immature'.

"So we still object such a practice," Liu said when asked whether there was any change to Beijing's stance towards the G4 resolution, which calls for an increase of six permanent members on the UN Security Council.

During Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India in April, he had apparently assured his hosts that Beijing would support India's candidature to the UNSC. But Chinese official sources here say that Beijing is resolutely opposed to Japan's bid to enter the UNSC and since India joined hands with Japan, China cannot support the G4 move.

The G-4 proposes increasing the number of Security Council members to 25 from the current 15 by adding six new permanent members and four new non-permanent members. The four also suggest a 15-year freeze on veto power for new permanent members.