( dpa ) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Monday called for "radical" reforms of international institutions, including the United Nations, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, to reflect the rise of Asia.
Brown, who began the second day of his India visit with an address to Indian business chambers in New Delhi, also said he supported India's bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat, asserting that more must be done to "make our global institutions more representative."
"I support India's bid for a permanent place - with others on an expanded United Nations Security Council," Brown, who is in the South Asian country on a two-day visit, told business leaders.
"And I support changes to the World Bank, the IMF and the G-8 that reflect the rise of India and rise of Asia," he added.
Brown proposed that the IMF should be turned into an independent watchdog which should monitor the global economic system to prevent financial crises in countries.
With financial turbulence from the US, the World Bank and IMF should take a lead an prevent such crises. "We have to find new ways of dealing with global financial turbulence," said Brown.
Saying that the World Bank needed to sharpen its focus on poverty reduction, Brown mooted that the bank set up an environment transformation fund which will help design low-carbon industries for poorer countries.
In a wide-ranging speech, Brown also called for a creation of rapid response force consisting of teams of police and civilian experts that would restore order and help reconstruction and rebuilding after conflicts.
Brown was accorded a ceremonial reception at the Presidential Palace earlier on Monday. He later laid a wreath at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of India's independence struggle.
Brown is slated to hold discussions with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh later in the day and terrorism would be a key feature of the talks, officials said.
Besides coordination on counter-terrorism measures, the two leaders would discuss bilateral trade and investment, cooperation in the education sector as well as strategies to arrest climate change.
London is seeking closer cooperation between security agencies of the two countries and also wants New Delhi's help in curbing terrorist financing.
The two countries are also looking to install sophisticated detection systems at their ports and airports to prevent terrorists and criminals from carrying weapons or explosive materials.
Myanmar, Pakistan and Afghanistan were expected to figure in the talks along with United Nations reforms, educational tie-ups and possible collaboration on development projects in Africa.
Brown, who arrived in Delhi on Sunday after his tour to China, also announced that Britain would invest 825 million pounds for development in India over the next three years.
Of the amount, 500 million pounds is expected to be spent on health and education which would help provide 300,000 more teachers and another 300,000 classrooms - ensuring that in total by 2011, 4 million more children - half of them girls - will be able to go to school.
Brown was scheduled to leave for London on Monday night after attending a banquet hosted by the Indian prime minister.