China on Thursday expressed support for India playing a larger role in the United Nations affairs, but was non-committal on backing a veto-wielding permanent seat for the country.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also said that Beijing will "redouble" efforts to jointly work with India to ensure peace, development and cooperation, while pursuing an "independent foreign policy of peace".
"Reform of the Security Council is an issue that everybody needs to negotiate on. The Chinese government has expressed that it supports India playing a larger role in UN affairs," Yang said after meeting his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee.
However, he did not elaborate on what role India should play.
Briefing the Indian External Affairs Minister on the outcome of the just-concluded Congress of the ruling Communist Party of China, Yang noted that President Hu Jintao has stressed in his 'work report' that whatever changes take place in the international situation, the Chinese government and people will always hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation besides pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace.
Yang, also a CPC member, noted that China would like to work with India for the maintenance of peace, security and development in region and the world at large.
After the National Congress, China will redouble efforts to promote good neighbourly relations and pursing common prosperity with India and other neighbouring countries, he said.
Describing India and China as important countries of influence, the Chinese foreign minister said Beijing would pursue its foreign policy of peace and step up efforts to ensure regional and global peace, security and development.
Mukherjee congratulated Yang for his "brilliant" handling of the third standalone trilateral meeting of foreign ministers of India, China and Russia in the northeast Chinese city.
"It was a brilliant performance. We could finish the items on the agenda in time. The credit goes to Your Excellency," said Mukherjee, as the two foreign ministers seem to have developed a good personal rapport, key to the resolution of some of the outstanding issues between New Delhi and Beijing.
The three foreign ministers issued a joint communiqué after an afternoon of talks that covered topics like terrorism, reaffirmation of the UN and Asian stability. At the same time, they sought the "democratisation" of international relations and a "just and rational" world order, but assured Washington and others that their ambitious trilateral cooperation was not targeted against any other country or organisation.
During his meeting with Yang, Mukherjee also expressed India's desire to deepen relations with China and went on to discuss issues pertaining to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's planned visit to China, reviewed progress on the boundary negotiations, trade issues.
