China welcomes NSG waiver for India

Beijing, Sept 8 (PTI) After its unexpected opposition in
Vienna, China Monday welcomed the Nuclear Supplier Group
(N.S.G.) granting a waiver to India to engage in nuclear
commerce, but hoped this cooperation should be "conducive" to
safeguarding the global nuclear non-proliferation efforts.

"China hopes that the decision will contribute to
peaceful use of nuclear energy and international cooperation
on nuclear non-proliferation," the Chinese Foreign Ministry
said in a statement.

China had joined hold-out countries like Austria, New
Zealand and Ireland which insisted on incorporating their
concerns in the waiver but later relented after the U.S.
pushed hard to get the nod of the 45-member nuclear cartel.

"China believes that all countries are entitled to make
peaceful use of nuclear energy, and conduct international
cooperation in this regard," the statement said.

"Meanwhile, relevant cooperation should be conducive to
safeguarding the integrity and efficacy of the international
nuclear non-proliferation regime," the statement said.

Beijing's statement is being seen as a move to assuage
New Delhi which has conveyed its unhappiness over the Chinese
position at the N.S.G. meet.

The tough negotiations at Vienna went down to the wire
after China, which had sounded positive in the run-up to the
N.S.G. meeting, took a different line creating problems for a
consensus on the waiver.

The statement came on a day when External Affairs
Minister Pranab Mukherjee held talks with his Chinese
counterpart Yang Jiechi in New Delhi.

"China has been taking part in relevant meetings within
the Nuclear Suppliers Group in a responsible and constructive
manner," the statement said.

"On September 6, N.S.G. discussed civilian nuclear
cooperation with India and issued a statement on the basis of
negotiated consensus, deciding to lift nuclear trade ban on
the country," the statement added.