Modi asks China to back India's bid for UNSC seat, NSG membership

Beijing: Pressing China to back India's bid for a permanent seat in a reformed UN Security Council and membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Prime Minister

Narendra Modi on Friday said such a move will take bilateral ties to a new level and give Asia a stronger voice.

"China's support for India's permanent membership of a reformed UNSC and for India's membership of export control regimes like Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) will do more than just strengthen our international cooperation," Modi said while addressing the students of the Tsinghua University.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar told the media that China for the first time said it has taken note of India's interest to become a member of the 44-nation NSG which controls the civil nuclear technology trade regime.

On UNSC, China reiterated that it backs India's aspiration to play big role in the world body.

China is the only veto-wielding permanent member, which is yet to come out in support of India's interest to become a permanent UNSC member.

"It will take our relationship to a new level. It will give Asia stronger voice in the world," Modi said.

"If we are able to deepen mutual trust and confidence, we will also be able to reinforce each other's efforts of connecting Asia with itself and rest of the world," he said.

In an apparent reference to the frictions between the two countries over strategic rivalry in South Asia, Modi said, "We are both increasing our engagement in our shared neighbourhood. This calls for deeper strategic communication to build mutual trust and confidence."

"We must ensure that our relationships with other countries do not become a source of concern for each other. And, wherever possible and feasible, we should work together, as we did in responding to the earthquake in Nepal," he said in reference to the aid given by both countries to the Himalayan nation in the wake of the April 25 quake.

"If the last century was the age of alliances, this is an era of inter-dependence. So, talks of alliances against one another have no foundation," Modi said.

Earlier, during talks with Li, the two sides made positive comments on each other's assistance to the quake relief work in Nepal and agreed to strengthen cooperation on disaster mitigation and relief in underdeveloped regions.

India and China also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern, including climate change, regional connectivity and terrorism.