China, Russia back UN reforms; laud India’s global role

NEW DELHI - Backing reforms of the UN, China and Russia Monday lauded the role of India in international affairs and said they looked forward to deepening cooperation with New Delhi in the UN Security Council.

“The ministers reiterated the need for a comprehensive reform of the UN to make it more democratic, representative and efficient so that it can deal with today’s global challenges more effectively,” a joint communiqu said after the trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of India, China and Russia in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

“The ministers of China and Russia appreciated the role played by India in international affairs and welcomed India’s election to the UN Security Council for the 2011-12 term, and looked forward to deepening cooperation with India within the council,” it said.

Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna wrapped up two-day trilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and their Russian counterpart Sergei Lavorv in Wuhan and discussed a host of issues, including terrorism, non-proliferation, the global financial architecture and climate change.

The three ministers called for jointly combating terrorism and urged all UN member states to urgently conclude and adopt the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

“The ministers emphasized the importance of joint efforts to counter the use of information and communication technologies for terrorist and criminal purposes. They also underscored the importance of joint efforts in countering the financing of terrorism,” the joint communiqu said.