The government issued its first comprehensive position paper on UN reform yesterday, emphasizing multilateralism and urging that it meet the needs of developing countries.
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All countries should make concerted efforts "to cope with threats and challenges, especially to eliminate their root causes, by collective action," the paper said.
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The UN plays an "indispensable role" in international affairs and should "continue to be a messenger for the maintenance of peace" and to promote development.
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It welcomed the high-level panel report on Threats, Challenges and Change, the UN Millennium Project Report and the comprehensive report of the UN Secretary-General.
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"China is ready to work with all parties to push for positive results in UN reform and success of the summit in September," it said.
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It stressed that reforms should: enhance multilateralism and the UN's authority; safeguard UN Charter principles; promote development as much as security; accommodate all members' concerns; be based on consultation and broad consensus; and proceed gradually from tackling more manageable problems to thornier ones.

It said it would be undesirable to set a time limit or force a decision on reform.

(Xinhua News Agency June 8, 2005)