London,Nov 01: Britain on Thursday backed India's candidature for a permanent seat in the expanded UN Security Council and pressed for clinching the one billion pound advanced jet training Hawk deal. The two countries are also planning to sign memorandum of understanding soon to boost bilateral cooperation in small and medium industries and biotechnology sectors.
Emerging from an hour-long meeting with visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told reporters here that "we strongly support the proposal that India should join as a permament member of UN Security Council."
Stating that Britain looked forward to "deep collaboration" between defence industries of the two countries, Straw made a forceful bid to finalise the AJT Hawk deal and said "we are very happy to support the British Aero Enterprise for the deal". Bureau Report