April 28 (Reuters) - The United States has set specific conditions for releasing billions of dollars owed to the United Nations, including further cost-cutting measures and steps to counter China's influence in the international organization, a development news agency reported on Tuesday.

The report, issued by Devex, an independent organization covering global development news, stated that two diplomatic notes circulated by the United States called for nine "rapid" reforms in order to release more funds.

The report added that these reforms include reforming the pension system for UN staff, ending long-distance business-class travel for some senior staff and all middle-level staff, imposing further reductions on top ranks in the UN, and a "10 percent reduction in long-term and ineffective peacekeeping missions."

Among the other reforms cited in the report is preventing China from transferring tens of millions of dollars each year to a discretionary fund located in the office of the UN Secretary-General, a move aimed at countering Chinese influence in the international organization.

According to Devex, one of the documents stated, "These reforms will be an indication that the United Nations is serious about carrying out reforms."

The US mission to the United Nations has not yet responded to a request for comment. The United States has repeatedly affirmed that it will continue to press the UN for reform after announcing its withdrawal from dozens of UN agencies this year and cutting its funding by millions of dollars last year.

The Chinese mission to the United Nations has not yet responded when asked for comment.

United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that the assessed contributions of the United States and all other member states are a "treaty obligation" and that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is "already leading a major reform" of the organization.

Dujarric added at a press conference, "This requires decisions that member states must make if we want the United Nations to be more effective and use its resources in the best way possible. The Secretary-General is doing everything he can in this direction."

Guterres had warned in January that the United Nations faced "imminent financial collapse" due to unpaid dues, most of which were owed by the United States. The UN said in February that the United States had paid about $160 million of the more than $4 billion it owed.

As of early February, the United States owed $2.19 billion to the UN's regular budget, representing more than 95 percent of all outstanding contributions from member states worldwide. The US also owed an additional $2.4 billion to current and past peacekeeping missions and $43.6 million to UN tribunals.