China ready to support India's non-permanent UNSC bid in 2011-12: Nirupama Rao

Beijing, May 27 (ANI): Concerns over disputes such as the Boundary Question and China's move in recent times to grant stapled visas to Kashmiris not withstanding, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao on Thursday said that Beijing has committed itself to supporting New Delhi's bid for non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) by 2011-12.

China has also backed greater role for India in world affairs, but its leaders stopped short of declaring explicit support to India's bid for a permanent seat on the Security Council.

Speaking to reporters after the State banquet hosted in honour of President Pratibha Devisingh Patil by Chinese President Hu Jintao, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said: "China supports India's candidature for the non permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council in 2011-12."

Ms. Rao said that India and China have agreed on strengthening cooperation in the UNSC and multilateral forums apart from having better strategic and bilateral ties.

On the issue of UNSC reform, Ms. Rao said: "China understood India's aspirations and desires, and Beijing supported greater role of New Delhi in the United Nation."

The Foreign Secretary added that China also supported the idea of greater representation of developing countries in the UNSC, and added that Beijing wanted the two countries to have regular contact over reforming the UNSC.he said that as developing nations, India and China have similar approaches and viewpoints on many global issues.

India and China have successfully carried out close cooperation within such international frameworks as G-20, BRIC countries and BASIC countries.

The two countries also coordinated with each other at the UN Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, held last December. By Praful Kumar Singh (ANI)