Brasilia, Apr 16: Making a strong pitch for a permanent seat for India in an expanded UN Security Council, President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday favoured a closely coordinated approach by the G-4 countries to pursue this "rightful" goal.

"We have closely coordinated our positions in the multilateral fora and are working together within the framework of G-4 to pursue our rightful and long overdue permanent membership of the UN Security Council," Patil said in an address to Brazilian Senators.

"I believe that our strategic partnership is founded on convergence of world views and shared vision of a new multi-polar world order...Our mutual interests provide a sound basis for a growing partnership which would serve the global quest to realise a peaceful, secure, prosperous, stable and equitable world order," the President said.

The G-4 countries -- India, Brazil, Germany and Japan -- have been making concerted efforts for permanent membership in an expanded Security Council.

Patil's speech to the Senate was sparsely attended, which a senior Brazilian government official explained by saying that during special sessions only the leaders of the political parties were invited.

Later, talking to reporters, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Nalin Surie said India and Brazil have decided to begin negotiations with the countries opposing their permanent membership in the UNSC.

"Let's move from the situation of hiding their positions. It's been 15 years. The world is changing even without the structural changes," Surie said.

Agreeing to Surie, Roberto Jaguaribe, undersecretary general of political affairs at Brazil's Foreign Ministry, said. "India became the most obvious candidate and Brazil is almost there."

He said inclusion of India and other countries in the UNSC was seeing an inordinate delay. "The world is changing...the international institutes should now be reflecting today's world realities."

Earlier, speaking on the co-relation between India and Brazil during her address, Patil said "as in Brazil, the primary challenge facing India is one of economic development. Both of our countries are determined to improve the conditions of life for our people and this can be done only by pursuing rapid and socially inclusive economic growth.

"However, we have chosen to work towards this goal within the framework of democracy. The task of economic development, never an easy one, is particularly challenging when it is to be realised in a democratic polity. However, our commitment to economic growth, social development and democracy is firm and resolute," she said