Berne, Oct 4 : President Pratibha Devisingh Patil has said the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) must reflect on contemporary geopolitical realities in order to combat global security challenges better.

Addressing mediapersons here, Patil said: "India views Switzerland as an important partner in all international fora. Therefore, we discussed the important issue of the reform of the United Nations, including the expansion of the Security Council. India profoundly believes that unless the Security Council is restructured to reflect the contemporary realities, its ability to react effectively to daily emerging collective security challenges would be hampered."

Patil also attended a banquet hosted by the Federal Council of Switzerland in her honour, along with her Swiss counterpart, President Micheline Calmy-Rey.

Speaking after the banquet, Patil said that India has not forgotten Switzerland''s contribution to its development in the early years of India''s independence.

She said that both the countries could strengthen their partnership by creating an encouraging environment for trade and investment, and by cooperating in the field of science, technology and education sectors.

Patil, who is on a eight-day state visit to Switzerland and Austria, had earlier addressed the Federal council of Switzerland in the Wandelhalle of the Swiss Parliament. (ANI)