Indonesia declares UN Security Council bid

Indonesia has announced its candidacy for membership on the UN Security Council, saying its commitment and contributions to the world's body make it a true partner for world peace.

In his speech on Friday before the UN General Assembly, the country's Vice President Muhammad Jusuf Kalla said the United Nations needs reforms to make it stronger and more relevant to 21st century challenges and realities. He said it needed to be transparent, effective, accountable, efficient and representative as the centre of world governance.

Kalla cited Indonesia's steady commitment to increase its peacekeeping force personnel by 2019 and its efforts to fight terrorism both regional and globally.

Selections of the new non-permanent Security Council members will be made in mid-2019. Other Asia-Pacific candidates are India and Vietnam.