Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Rome yesterday (July 8)on a four-day visit to attend the Summit of G-8 industrialised nations and a meeting of top leaders of five 'outreach' countries who will grapple with the issues of global economic downturn and climate change.

Before leaving for the summit, Prime Minister Dr Singh, today squarely blamed the developed countries for the current economic meltdown, while also making a strong pitch for reforming the UN Security Council and the country getting its due place in the emerging international order.

'What we are witnessing today is the consequence of over two centuries of industrial activity and high consumption lifestyles in the developed world. They have to bear this historical responsibility. India will actively participate in the international negotiations on climate change within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Bali Action Plan,' he said.

Dr Singh is also likely to hold bilateral meetings with us President Barack Obama and other G8 leaders like those of UK, Germany and Italy on the sidelines of the G-5 and G-5 Summits.

'This will be an occasion for projecting India's views on major global issues relating to the world economic and financial crisis and its impact on development, food security, energy security and climate change, international trade negotiations and reform of international institutions,' the statement said. In an article - The Vision of Emerging Powers - India, published in the compendium brought out by the G8 nations on the eve of its summit in Italy, the Prime Minister said: 'The structure of UNSC must evolve to become true representative of the global community".

Stating that the present veto power system is outdated, Dr Singh wrote: 'The system of two-tiered membership, which gives a veto to the five permanent members i.e. the nations that emerged victorious after the Second World War, is clearly anachronistic.'

Making a case for the inclusion of emerging and developing countries in the Security Council and global financial institutions, the PM outlined his vision of India's place in the international order.

'India, as the largest democracy in the world and an emerging economy that has achieved the ability to grow rapidly, remains deeply committed to multilateralism,' Dr Singh said.