India and Japan Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to the
expansion of the UN Security Council and called for mobilizing
maximum support to the G4 grouping formed for the purpose.
"The ministers emphasized the need for urgent and comprehensive
reform of the UN, including expansion of the Security Council in
both permanent and non-permanent categories," said a joint press
release issued after delegation-level discussions between Japanese
Foreign Minister Taro Aso and India's Minister of State for
External Affairs E. Ahamed.
The two sides stressed that the coming together of the G4 that
includes India, Japan, Brazil and Germany was a "significant
development" and called for garnering support from other
countries.
"We are committed to the G4. We support close coordination among
G4 countries to achieve its aim of expanding the Security Council,"
Toshinori Katori, press secretary with the Japanese embassy,
said.
Taro Aso also met Indian officials, including National Security
Adviser M.K. Narayanan and President A.P.J Abdul Kalam, and
discussed bilateral ties including the UN reforms.
(Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2006)
