No assurance on backing Lagarde for IMF top job: Mukherjee

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today said that India had not given any assurance to support French finance minister Christine Lagarde's bid for the post of IMF managing director despite her assurances that emerging nations will have their due role in a changed IMF.

Mukherjee's statement comes after Lagarde called on him today as part of her effort to seek support for her candidature to the IMF top post.

During her talks with Mukherjee, she outlined her vision for reforms that IMF needs to undertake and the role it can play in addressing the current challenges confronting the world economy, including the G-20.

She also conveyed to the finance minister her conviction that the IMF should reflect current global economic realities and that there was need for greater voice for the emerging market economies in all the significant issues that the world today confronts.

Describing her as an old friend of India, Mukherjee outlined India's strong relationship with France and wished her well in her efforts to gain support for her candidature.

Mukherjee also exchanged views with her on the role of IMF and India's expectations from the IMF and its leadership.