Netherlands backs India for permanent UNSC seat

The Netherlands, the world's 16th largest economy, today backed India's permanent membership in an expanded UN Security Council and pitched for expanding economic ties to new heights.

The Netherlands, the world's 16th largest economy, on Tuesday backed India's permanent membership in an expanded UN Security Council and pitched for expanding economic ties to new heights.

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External affairs minister SM Krishna held talks with his Dutch counterpart Uri Rosenthal, who began his three-day visit to India on Monday, on a wide range of issues, including the intensification of economic ties, UN reforms and the global financial architecture.

They discussed the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan and ways of combating militancy that emanates from the AfPak region.

The two ministers also discussed the evolving situation in West Asia and the North African region that has seen a surge of pro-democracy movements in some countries.

"Dr Rosenthal expressed Netherlands' support for India's permanent membership in an expanded UN Security Council, besides also endorsing efforts of G4 towards the said objective," the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

The two sides agreed to redouble efforts to enhance trade and economic ties, said the ministry.

The Netherlands is among India's key economic partners in Europe, with bilateral trade estimated to be over 5 billion euros, which is in India's favour.

The State Bank of India will be opening a bank on the Netherlands.

India also plans to open a cultural centre in the Netherlands, a founding member of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.