China supports India`s desire `to play bigger role` in UNSC

Beijing, Jan 17 (PTI) Describing India as a "large
developing country" with aspiration to play a bigger role in
the Security Council, China on Monday said it supported
"rational" and "necessary" reform in the powerful UN body with
increased representation for developing countries.
Reacting cautiously to assertions of the India's envoy
to United Nations (UN), Hardeep Singh Puri's remarks that
China would not be an obstacle to Indian becoming a permanent
member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Chinese
Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Hong Lei said Beijing understands
and supports New Delhi’s desire to play a bigger role in the
UN, including the UNSC.
"China had always attached importance to India's role
in international affairs either as an emerging economy or a
large developing country," state-run Xinhua news agency quoted
Hong as saying while responding to Puri’s remarks.
"China understands and supports India's desire to play
a bigger role in the United Nations, including its Security
Council," he said.
"We support rational and necessary reform of the UNSC,
and increasing the representation of developing countries at
the UNSC should be a priority," said the Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesman.
"China is ready to keep contacts and consultations
with the UN member states, including India, on the reform of
the UNSC," Hong said.
"There is no change in China's position on the reform
of the UNSC," Hong said.
At the same time, he stated that member countries had
sharply divergent views on the reform of the UNSC, and all
parties should continue democratic and patient negotiations in
an effort to find solutions that had popular support among
member countries.
China is the only member of the permanent five of the
UNSC that has not yet openly come out in support of India's
bid for a permanent seat.
US President Barack Obama supported India’s case for a
permanent seat in the UNSC during his visit to New Delhi last
year.
Besides Puri, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao
also said after the recent visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao
to New Delhi that she too believe China was unlikely to stand
in the way when the process of reform reaches an ultimate
decision stage.