Indicating Beijing's [Images] disapproval of New Delhi's association with Japan [Images] in its quest for a permanent seat on the expanded United Nations Security Council, China has said it will 'fully support' India if it puts forward its candidature independently as 'one of the largest developing countries of the world'.

"We would like to see India play a more important role in the UNSC. However, India is part of the G-4, which includes Japan, which is not qualified for a permanent seat," Chinese Ambassador Sun Yuxi said, on the sidelines of a function in New York on Tuesday evening.

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Sun maintained that his country would not support Japan, as it is 'not qualified' for the seat. However, he evaded a reply when asked whether China will back India if it comes out of the G-4, which also includes Germany [Images] and Brazil [Images], and makes an independent bid.

Sun said furthering the recently-cemented strategic partnership between India and China will be high on the agenda in the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] and Chinese President Hu Jintao, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.

On steps being taken to further bilateral relations between the two countries, Sun said China was placing more emphasis on promoting trade ties and increased people-to-people interaction.

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