By Patricia Zengerle and Michelle Nichols WASHINGTON/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -The United Nations needs reform and the United States must have a strong voice to counter China, Mike Waltz, U.S. President Donald Trump's pick to be his U.

Trump's UN envoy pick Mike Waltz urges urgent reform, pledges to counter China's influence, backs UN staff cuts, and calls for stronger US leadership and transparency at the global body.

Mike Waltz, US President Donald Trump’s nominee for United Nations ambassador, vowed on Tuesday to make the world body “great again” – and that he would do so by confronting Beijing’s expanding influence while leading an overhaul of what he described as a bloated,