By IANS,
Beijing: A day after US President Barack Obama endorsed India’s bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, China Tuesday said it is ready for consultations with New Delhi and that it is in favour of giving more representation to developing countries in the global body.
“China values India’s status in international affairs and understands India’s aspirations to play a greater role in the United Nations and is ready to keep contact and consultations with India and other member states on the issues of Security Council reform,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei told reporters in Beijing.
“China supports reasonable and necessary reform of the UN Security Council and will maintain priority to giving more representation to developing countries so that they can play bigger role in Security Council,” Hong said.
He stressed the need to evolve a consensus on the issue. “We hope all parties should continue to have democratic and patient consultations so as to reach a package of consensus on reform related issues so that negotiations will become a process to narrow differences, safeguard unity and realise a win-win scenario,” he said.
The issue of UN Security Council reforms will figure in discussions during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to India next month.
Asked about the US’ expression of support for India’s membership for Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG), Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australian Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement, Hong said all countries should respect their international obligation of non-proliferation.
“China believes that countries under the precondition of respecting the international obligation of non proliferation have the right to make peaceful use of nuclear energy and conduct international cooperation in this field. Meanwhile it should safeguard the integrity and effectiveness of the international non proliferation regime,” he said.
“We hope that cooperation between relevant countries could contribute to regional peace stability and development.”