German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has said he is confident of winning a permanent seat on the United Nations security council.

He said Germany, Japan, Brazil and India – the G4 – had formulated a “convincing concept” to reform the UN which would win support at the world body’s general assembly.

The G4 is making the case for an enlarged 15-seat security council, with six new veto-less permanent council seats, and four new rotating non-permanent seats. Currently, permanent seats are held by Britain, the US, Russia, France and China.

France is a co-sponsor of the resolution, while Russia is also backing Germany’s bid to win a permanent seat. US president George Bush last month said he would not oppose Germany’s bid.

The resolution is set to be discussed by the UN’s 191 members next week, when the organisation will discuss how to reform itself to reflect the changing political and military realities across the planet.