Visiting U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori agreed Tuesday to push forward reforms of the United Nations, although Annan stopped short of saying he supported Tokyo's proposal for a 24-seat Security Council and a permanent seat for Japan.

During their afternoon talks at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, Mori told Annan of Japan's desire to increase the total number of UNSC seats to 24 -- with the number of permanent seats increased to 10 from the current five and the rotating seats to 14 from the current 10 -- a Foreign Ministry official said.

The five permanent members are the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China. Japan is hoping for a permanent-member seat with the increase.

"As Japan is getting more support (from other member countries), we will try to convince the new U.S. administration to support the seat expansion to 24," Mori was quoted as saying. The United States has said it will accept an increase to 21 seats or more.

Annan, in response, said he understands that reform of the UNSC is an "urgent agenda," but did not clarify whether he supports the 24-seat proposal.

Annan was further quoted as saying that reform of the U.N. is very important and member countries should "continue to explore" ways to reform the UNSC.

Mori told Annan that public sentiment in Japan is souring toward shouldering 20 percent of the U.N. budget while there is no progress on reform of the Security Council. Japan's share of the U.N. budget is the second largest after the United States, which shoulders 25 percent.

Annan said he appreciates Japan's contribution to the U.N. and was glad that the reduction in official development assistance in Japan's fiscal 2001 budget was limited to just 3 percent.

Debate within the Liberal Democratic Party over slashing ODA by as much as 30 percent heated up last year in light of Japan's tight fiscal condition. Annan sent a letter to Mori in December to express concerns over the effect of a large cut in Japan's ODA.

Annan said he was glad that Japan responded to his letter, and he also understands that Japan's public support is necessary to maintain its ODA disbursement.

Meanwhile, Mori and Annan agreed that the number of Japanese staff at the U.N. should be increased, the official said.

Annan said that while the number of Japanese personnel is increasing, the U.N. must think of ways to stop them from leaving the organization after a few years, the official said.

ODA a 'duty'

Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa on Tuesday told visiting U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan that Japan intends to continue providing official development assistance to ensure world stability, a ministry official said.

During talks at the ministry, Annan asked Miyazawa about the government's ODA policy, although the U.N. chief did not refer to the country's fiscal 2001 budget, which reduced ODA spending by 3 percent due to budgetary constraints, the official said.

Miyazawa replied that it is Japan's "duty" to provide development assistance to less developed nations because Tokyo cannot contribute militarily to world peace, the official quoted him as saying.

Miyazawa also emphasized that Japan's younger generations must learn from the country's World War II experience, which is why the country makes economic contributions to the international community, the official said.

Regarding the current state of the economy, Miyazawa explained to Annan that there has been a gradual recovery led by the corporate sector, but individual consumption still remains stagnant possibly due to corporate restructuring efforts, the official said.

Citing the ongoing information technology revolution in the United States, Annan said intensifying economic globalization may increase unemployment problems, but added that IT could potentially expand employment opportunities, the official said.