New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) Ahead of President Pratibha Patil’s five-day visit to China, India Tuesday hoped that Beijing would come out with a clear expression of support for New Delhi’s claim for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
‘They have taken note of our legitimate aspirations for a greater role in the United Nations, and more specifically in the UN Security Council,’ Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters here, a day before Patil leaves for China Wednesday.
She was responding to a question on whether India was hoping for a clearer expression of support from Beijing on its bid for the UN seat during the president’s forthcoming visit.
Patil will meet her Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao in Beijing Thursday. The two will discuss a range of bilateral, regional and global issues to invigorate relations between the two countries.
There will be an opportunity to refer to the UN Security Council seat during the discussions, said Rao.
‘Our effort will be to ensure there is an evolution of the Chinese position,’ she added.
China has backed greater role for India in world affairs, but its leaders have stopped short of declaring explicit support for India’s bid for a permanent seat on the powerful Security Council.
Rao downplayed differences between India and China over a host of issues, including China issuing stapled visas for people of Jammu and Kashmir and Chinese aid to projects in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.
She said the relationship between India and China is a wider one between two larger neighbours and two emerging powers that could contribute to regional peace, stability and prosperity.
