Terming India a "deserving candidate", Russia today backed its claim for a permanent membership in an expanded United Nations Security Council reflecting present-day realities.
"Russia views India as one of the deserving candidates for the seat of permanent member in the expanded UNSC,"
says a joint declaration signed here after summit talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
The two sides also reiterated their intention to strengthen their cooperation on the issues concerning the reforms of UN and its Security Council.
"The UNSC reform should be carried out in a way to reflect the modern-day realities and make this organisation more representative and effective in resolving the existing and emerging tasks," the Indo-Russian declaration said.