By IANS,
New Delhi : Japan Saturday sought India’s cooperation in starting talks with African countries to push forward UN Security Council reforms.
Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna held the fourth round of strategic dialogue with his Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada, who began his 28-hour visit Saturday morning, during which the UN reforms figured prominently.
In their talks, the two ministers gave a fresh impetus to enhanced consultations between India and Japan for expediting the reforms.
“I look forward to cooperating with India closely in approaching African countries in this regard,” Okada told reporters at a joint press conference with Krishna.
India’s Krishna and Japan’s Okada, along with the foreign ministers of Brazil and Germany, will meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to carry forward their joint effort as part of G4 for reform of the Security Council.
Among the G4 countries, India enjoys closer relations based on mutual trust with African countries.
Tokyo has leaned on New Delhi on mobilizing African countries in view of India’s special relationship with the continent. India’s bilateral trade with Africa is estimated to be around $40 billion.
India and African countries also cooperate closely on global issues including the UN reforms and global trade talks.
The 53-nation African Union holds the key to the reform of the UN Security Council, but it is undecided on choosing its consensus candidates for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council due to competing nationalist rivalries.