to gain a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council,
where China is the only Asian member.
“China supports appropriate and necessary reforms to the UN Security Council,”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular news briefing.
“China understands India’s desire to enter the Security Council.
China is willing to keep in contact with other countries, including India,
and participate in negotiations on the entrance of more developing countries,” Hong added.
This is significant because China and India have touchy relations on a number of fronts,
including disputed borders in the Himalayan mountains.
US President Barack Obama, during a visit to India this week,
endorsed New Delhi’s desire for a permanent seat as part of a ‘reformed Security Council’.
Changing the makeup of the Security Council, however, could be a long and difficult process
which may face resistance from other permanent members.
The US, Britain, France, Russia and China have held permanent seats on the Security Council since 1971,
when the People’s Republic of China took over the seat held by Taiwan.