India hopes China will see 'logic' of having it in NSG

India on Thursday said it is hopeful that China will see the logic of having India in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), as it would strengthen the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Asked about India's expectations from the NSG special meeting, to be held in Vienna on November 11-12, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said India cannot comment on what may happen at the meeting, but it has continued conversations with NSG members on the issue of its membership.

"It is not really for us to comment as we are not inside the room. However, after the NSG Plenary in Seoul we have had continued conversations with NSG members and remain engaged in the process," Swarup said.

"We have lodged our application. Now it is for the NSG members to consider it and take a decision," he said.

Commenting on China, which has not yet supported India's application for membership to the grouping, he said: "We remain hopeful that eventually China will see the logic of India being inside the NSG which ultimately will benefit the global nuclear non proliferation regime".

Swarup said negotiations with China have been on.

"As far as Chinese position is concerned, we just had a second round of very fruitful talks between the head of our disarmament and international security affairs division and the Chinese lead negotiator on the NSG issue."

"This was preceded by a round which had taken place in Delhi. Both sides have very freely and frankly discussed the positions and have agreed to conclude that engagement," he said.

On Tuesday, China pushed for a "non-discriminatory" two-step approach for countries that have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), like India and Pakistan, to become members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

--IANS

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