China open to India joining NSG, says Foreign Secretary Jaishankar

China is open to India joining the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar told media here on Wednesday after holding strategic dialogue discussions with his counterpart.

Jaishankar said, "China said it had an open approach on India's membership, but that there were issues of procedures and processes, which they felt needed further clarification and discussions. So, they were not in a position to bring it to a finite conclusion. At the same time, they maintained in terms of India's application, they had an open mind about it."

He said that discussions on NSG membership was one of the key aspects of the dialogue with Executive Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Zhang Yesui and State Counsellor Yang Jiechi.

Last month, New Delhi had taken umbrage over Beijing suggesting that an attempt was being made by outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama to give membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to India as a "parting gift" because of its outstanding non-proliferation record.

The spokesman of the Indian External Affairs Ministry, Vikas Swarup, had then said, "India is not seeking NSG membership as a gift. India is seeking it on its non-proliferation record."

In an obvious to Pakistan, which is also seeking NSG membership with China's backing, Swarup said, "I, of course, cannot speak for other applicants," raising concerns over Islamabad's questionable non-proliferation record.

China has repeatedly blocked India's MSG membership bid despite support from the majority of NSG members, on the grounds that New Delhi hasn't signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NNPT).

Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seek to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.