By Kavita Bajeli-Datt, IANS,
Beijing : India wants to “deepen, expand and diversify” relations with China, President Pratibha Patil informed Chinese leader Jia Qinglin Friday.
Patil met Jia, the fourth ranking member of the politburo in the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People on the third day of her six-day China visit.
The former Beijing Mayor complimented Patil on her “successful visit”.
She said her talks with the Chinese leadership were “positive and fruitful and both the sides share a vision that will take their strategic relations to greater heights”.
On Thursday, Patil met President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao and raised the issue of India’s candidature for a permanent membership to the UN Security Council.
While China expressed support for India for a non-permanent seat at the UNSC, there was no outright support for permanent membership.