Beijing: India's quest for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council has received an initial boost from China with Beijing saying for the first time that it supports a "greater role" for New Delhi in the international arena, including the United Nations.

"The Chinese Government values India's influence and role in international and regional affairs and is willing to see a greater Indian role in the international arena, the United Nations included," Tang Jiaxuan, who oversees China's foreign policy as a senior Cabinet Minister, said in an interview.

Tang's remarks are one of the most explicit public statements from a senior Chinese leader on India's bid to become a permanent member of the top decision-making body of the United Nations.

Previously, China, one of the five permanent members of the UNSC, had been quite ambiguous when it said the Chinese side has taken note of India's desire to play a more active role in international affairs. At the same time, China used to say that it has not taken any decision on supporting any country's candidature under an expanded UNSC.

Tang also noted that the Chinese government is supportive of a "reasonable" and "necessary" reform of the UNSC.

"China believes that the reform of the UNSC should take into account the interest of all parties, the developing countries in particular, follow the principle of equitable distribution, and give priority to increased representation of the developing countries," Tang said.

"The Chinese leaders are willing to visit India at an appropriate time upon invitation. Indian leaders are also welcome to visit China at their earliest convenience," he said.

Tang also commented on the first anniversary of the first-ever joint declaration between the two countries, signed on June 23 last year during the visit of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He said the joint declaration marked the beginning of a new stage of all-round co-operation in India-China relations.

"The Chinese Government values this declaration and has done a lot of work to implement it," Tang said.

"Thanks to the joint efforts of the two sides in the past year, various co-operation initiatives agreed by the leaders of the two countries either have been or are being implemented," he said.

For example, mutually beneficial trade and economic co-operation between the two countries has grown rapidly, he noted while pointing out to the 54.8 per cent growth witnessed in bilateral trade which reached a record $ 7.6 billion.