China wants Bangladesh to support its position on reforming the United Nations Security Council, a debate that has been continuing for over two decades.
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ma Mingqiang had a meeting with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali yesterday and briefed him about Beijing’s position on the UN Security Council reform.
“The debate has been continuing since 1993, and this year, the security council reform discussion will begin at the UN General Assembly from March 26,” said an official of the Foreign Ministry.
China wants reform at the UN Security Council but they do not want to make any decision hastily, he said.
The security council has five permanent members with veto-power – US, UK, China, Russia and France – and 10 non-permanent members elected for a two-year term.
Japan, India, Brazil, South Africa and Germany have been very vocal about the reform at the UNSC. Bangladesh in 2002 supported Japan, the second biggest donor to the UN, to become a permanent member and 2010 supported India to become a permanent member.
“The foreign minister had listened to what the Chinese ambassador said. Bangladesh has already supported Japan and India and in this situation, Bangladesh cannot make any comment,” the official said.