India’s top envoy in South Korea underscored the world’s most populous democracy’s goal to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council during a reception in Seoul on Thursday.

Indian Ambassador to South Korea Vishnu Prakash made the comments when he hosted foreign envoys, Korean dignitaries and friends of India to celebrate his nation’s 65th Republic Day with a robust and lively reception.

“We are gratified at the growing international support for India’s candidature and I am happy to note that in the joint statement issued during the state visit recently concluded of President Park Geun-hye to India, the two leaders noted that reform of the Security Council must reflect contemporary realities and include major developing countries,” he said in his welcome remarks.

President Park Geun-hye met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a four-day visit this month.

India wrested independence from British colonial rule on Aug. 15, 1947. It inaugurated a democratic constitution on Jan. 26, 1950, “beginning an unprecedented experiment in secular and democratic government of a highly diverse and continent-sized country,” Prakash said. “Our national identity has become stronger in the last 65 years.”

Diplomatic relations between India and South Korea began in 1973, but became significantly stronger when India began its “Look East” foreign policy of strengthening ties with East Asian nations like South Korea. For example, trade between the two nations has increased a great deal since then. Bilateral trade was only $530 million in 1992 but, in 2006, jumped to $10 billion. Two-way trade was $18.8 billion in 2012 and cumulative South Korea foreign direct investment in India was $4 billion as of 2012.

An Indian Cultural Center was set up here in 2011, and a Korean Cultural Center was established in New Delhi in 2012, and a newly minted Indian Cultural Center was opened in Busan on Dec. 6, 2013.

By Philip Iglauer (ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)