China will not talk about India's NSG membership in Seoul meeting

China has said that discussing India’s entry into the elite NSG group was not even on the agenda of the grouping's meeting that is scheduled to take place in Seoul this week. The statement has come a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that Beijing was not opposing India's entry.

"We have stressed that the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is still divided about non-NPT countries' entry into the NSG and under the current circumstances we hope that NSG will make thorough discussions to make a decision based on consultation," Hua Chunying, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said.

When asked about Swaraj's remarks, Hua said that the agenda of the meeting, which is to be held on 24^th June, doesn’t include India's admission into NSG.

"As we understand the annual conference in Seoul this year also has no such topic. We understand that non-NPT countries are concerned about their entry into the NSG. But since NSG is still divided about the issue, so it is still not mature to talk about the entry issue in the annual conference in Seoul," she said.

"I want point out that the NSG agenda has never covered any issue concerning the non-NPT countries joining the NSG," she added.

Sushma Swaraj, on the other hand, had expressed her confidence over India’s NSG membership.

"China is not opposing membership of India in NSG, it is only talking of criteria and procedure. I am hopeful that we would be able to convince China as well to support our entry to the NSG," she had said.

"I think that there is a consensus which is being made and I am sure that India will become the member of the NSG this year," she had said.
Hua said, "China maintains that NSG should have thorough discussion on the joining of the non-NPT countries in a way agreed by all parties, so as to make a decision based on agreement. This position is not directed against any country and applies to all non-NPT states," she said.

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