Resolution on expansion of UNSC received solid support: Puri

United Nations: The proposal of expanding UN Security Council membership tabled by the G4 nations, including India, has received "solid support" from countries across regions, India's envoy to the world body Hardeep Singh Puri said.

Puri said the G4's "short resolution" has got encouraging support in the form of 85 signatures, 53 other expressions of support and another 14-15 in the pipeline.

At the beginning of the plenary session, G4 had called for an expansion of the permanent and non-permanent categories of UNSC membership reflecting the geopolitical realities of the 21st century.

"The interesting part is we got solid support for expansion in both categories cutting across regions," Puri told reporters at the conclusion of the first day of the five-round discussion on Security Council reforms.

He said that there is "very strong support" from countries in Europe like Portugal, Greece, Hungary and Slovenia and some Caribbean and Pacific nations.

"It has been an excellent start and we will need to build on it to give it critical definition in the months ahead," he added.

Puri rubbished reports that China had opposed the short resolution by the G4 comprising India, Brazil, Germany and Japan, that seeks expansion in both categories at the UNSC and improvement in the working methods.

"I had a look at the Chinese statement. They said they are in favour of necessary and reasonable reform of the Security Council.

"They favour more developing countries coming onto the Council including in particular from Africa. They then went on to say they are concerned about the piecemeal approach," Puri said.