Gordon Brown spent ten years as Chancellor of the Exchequer before finding time to visit India. It has taken him a little over six months to grace the subcontinent with his Prime Ministerial presence. The importance of India, on the political and economic stages, has grown quickly in recent years. Mr Brown is reflecting that fact by travelling to the world's most populous democracy twice in the space of a year.

He is also acknowledging that Britain, and the rest of the developed world, needs India to play an ever larger part in world affairs. Mr Brown's contribution to global diplomacy is still in its infancy. But he has vigorously supported reform of international institutions such as the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund. More will be heard from him on the subject today. He will also urge that India be awarded permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council. Such a call would not be misplaced. The Security Council needs additional members to sustain and enhance its power, and relevance, now the Cold War has receded into history. India has shown that, if it had additional responsibility, it would use it wisely, China acted over Burma at least partly because its saw that its UN status handed it an obligation.

If India joined the Security Council, Pakistan would, doubtless, be aggrieved. It is increasingly peculiar that there is no instantly recognisable Islamic voice at the Security Council table when twisted radical Islam presents the world with its most immediate security threat. Yet India is an invaluable voice of calm within its region - comprising flashpoints including Pakistan itself, but stretching from Afghanistan, to Burma, and Sri Lanka, to Tibet. India also has the potential to be an advocate for less fortunate, and less enlightened, cousins. It could, and should, represent developing world concerns. It would have to, if it were to be a successful and effective addition to the current membership comprising the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain.

India's record for statesmanship has been cemented in the last decade and a half under the watchful eye of Manmohan Singh who, like his guest, graduated from Finance Minister to be Prime Minister. Adding India's name to the Security Council would serve to recognise its internal social, economic, and political achievements. India has lived largely at peace with itself, as a functioning democracy, since gaining independence 60 years ago. Much greater political, military, economic, and social strife has been endured at one time or another by most, if not all, its near neighbours.

India's rapidly emerging economic importance provides Mr Brown with extra reason to visit. If reform of international institutions is on the agenda, Mr Brown could usefully turn his attention to the World Trade Organisation. WTO talks have become synonymous with tedious inactivity. No one should lose sight, nevertheless, of the human goods than come as a result of freer trade. India is representing developing world concerns in this sphere. If Mr Brown could facilitate even glacial movement on WTO negotiations, he would deserve plaudits. As with China, from whence he flew, enhanced trade links are mutually beneficial. As with China, moreover, it is becoming ever clearer that Britain needs India more than India needs Britain.