India and Africa Wednesday underscored the need for urgent and comprehensive reform of the UN system and backed each other's aspirations to become permanent members of the Security Council with full rights.
The eight-page Addis Ababa Declaration adopted at the end of the two-day Africa-India Forum Summit here said the African members of the UN Security Council and India affirm their commitment to coordinate closely during India's tenure as non-permanent member of the Council.
"In this context, we underscore the imperative of urgent and comprehensive reform of the UN system. We share the view that the UN should function in a transparent, efficient and effective manner and that the composition of its central
organs must reflect contemporary realities.
"The expansion of the UN Security Council, in permanent and non-permanent categories of membership, with increased participation of developing countries in both categories, is central to the process of reform and for enhancing the credibility of the United Nations," the declaration read.
It said India notes the common African position and aspirations of African countries to get their rightful place in an expanded UN Security Council as new permanent members with full rights as contained in the Ezulwini Consensus.
"Africa takes note of India's position and its aspirations to become a permanent member with full rights in an expanded UN Security Council," it said.