India hopeful about China’s support for UNSC seat

ON BOARD AIR INDIA ONE - Not expecting much diplomatic gains from President Pratibha Devisingh Patil’s visit to China, India is, however, hopeful that Beijing would support India’s candidature for a permanent seat in the United Nation’s Security Council.

President Patil’s is visiting China at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao from May 26 to 31. Her visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and China.

Minister of Food Processing Industries Subodh Kant Sahay, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and a business delegation are accompanying her.

“We hope that India should be in the United Nation Security Council (as a permanent member), and I hope to take up the matter with my Chinese counterpart,” President Patil said when asked about seeking China’s support in this regard.

She also said that as developing nations, India and China have similar approaches and viewpoints on many global issues.

India and China have successfully had 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 last December. By Praful Kumar Singh (ANI)