China: Next UN secretary-general should be Asian
China today said the next general secretary of the United Nations should be from Asia because of the enormous population in the region.
“Over the past 34 years, there have been no people from this region assuming such a position,” said Liu Jianchao, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry.
“Asia has the continent with the largest population in the world, so we think it is proper that the next secretary general should be from Asia.”
The term of Kofi Annan, the current general secretary of the UN, expires in 2006.
The job rotates every 10 years by region. In theory, Africa should have handed over the post in January 2002, but Annan was selected for a second five-year term in 2001, partly because Asia could not agree on a candidate.
“We hope the countries in Asia could consult on this question and reach a consensus.” Liu said.
