Beijing opposes Kofi Annan's UN structural reforms

China signaled on Wednesday that it would resist plans to enlarge the UN Security Council this year, a proposal that is the centerpiece of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's package of changes to be taken up at a meeting of heads of state in September.

Annan put forward two plans last month to expand the membership on the Council to 24 from its current 15, and he urged the General Assembly to decide on the proper model by the time of the September gathering. He said the Council makeup must be broadened to reflect modern realities of global power.

China's ambassador to the UN, Wang Guangya (王光亞), told the General Assembly on Wednesday that while China shared Annan's concern that the current makeup was outdated, it could not endorse either of the formulas for change and would in any case block quick action.