China to back India’s UNSC bid
New Delhi
: Indicative of the new found warmth in the relations between the two countries, China on Wednesday assured India
that it will support its bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security
Council (UNSC).
The assurance was given to External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, who is on a four-day visit to Beijing, by the Chinese in response to his assertion that its time China "reviews" its policies on UN reforms to "welcome" its neighbour to the group.
The development is very significant as the Chinese have been, historically, very reluctant to induct other emerging superpowers into the elite club of world’s most powerful nations.
They have been saying that they support India's aspirations to play an important role at the UN, but want an overall reform of the world body. China has also not backed Japan, the other Asian contender for a permanent UNSC seat.
Surely, China’s change of stance holds great promise for New Delhi in its quest to find a foothold in the global high stakes game. It also demonstrates the new found willingness within the Chinese establishment to move ahead and increase the level of engagement with its biggest neighbour.
Besides the understanding on the India’s UNSC bid, both countries have agreed to establish a hotline between Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and Wen Jiabao.
They have also made "considerable progress" on the boundary question, as both the sides have decided to adopt a patient approach and show maturity in dealing with outstanding issues.
In Krishna’s words: “There is unprecedented engagement between India and China on many fronts whether it be in trade and commerce, high level political interaction, contact between our defence establishments, cultural exchange, education, tourism
and the environment.”
"Although unprecedented, this is but a fraction of what we can do together. Sixty years marks a full cycle in the Chinese calendar. In India too, attaining the age of sixty has a special meaning and significance,” he said at a reception here hosted to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The meeting comes in backdrop of months of wrangling between the Asian superpowers over a host of issues. China had lately been adopting a belligerent stance on the vexed border dispute, and had even made incursions in Arunachal and Ladakh area of J&K. China had also made a very controversial move by issuing stapled visa to Indian national from J&K, whereby indicating it as a disputed region.
China to back India?s UNSC bid: Report
