China and other emerging economies deserve a bigger say in the decision-making process if global decision-making bodies are to remain relevant, a UN official said.

Action is needed to reform bodies to adapt to the new role of developing countries and emerging powers or they will risk losing relevance, said Rebeca Grynspan, undersecretary-general of the UN and associate administrator of the UN Development Program.

"We need to avoid countries increasingly pursuing avenues that undermine the effectiveness of existing governance systems. We need to pursue complementarities in our efforts and reinforce existing institutions," she said in an interview on Friday. Grynspan is on an eight-day visit to China that ends on Monday.