India and Japan Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to the expansion of the UN Security Council and called for mobilizing maximum support to the G4 grouping formed for the purpose.

"The ministers emphasized the need for urgent and comprehensive reform of the UN, including expansion of the Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories," said a joint press release issued after delegation-level discussions between Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso and India's Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed.

The two sides stressed that the coming together of the G4 that includes India, Japan, Brazil and Germany was a "significant development" and called for garnering support from other countries.

"We are committed to the G4. We support close coordination among G4 countries to achieve its aim of expanding the Security Council," Toshinori Katori, press secretary with the Japanese embassy, said.

Taro Aso also met Indian officials, including National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan and President A.P.J Abdul Kalam, and discussed bilateral ties including the UN reforms.

(Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2006)