Nuclear Thread - 3

[acharya]

<b> China may not raise objection</b>

BEIJING: On the eve of India presenting its case on the nuclear deal before the International Atomic Energy Agency, China hinted that it might not be a stumbling block when the safeguards accord came up before the global nuclear watchdog.

“I believe countries could under the presentation of fulfilling international obligations carry out peaceful cooperation in peaceful [use of] nuclear energy and I hope the relevant issues can be resolved through negotiations between relevant parties,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told journalists here on Thursday.

Mr. Liu’s remarks came on the heels of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao on the sidelines of the G-8 summit in Japan early this month. After the talks, India voiced confidence that there would be no “difficulty” from the Chinese side when the matter came up before the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

China is a key member in the IAEA and the NSG, whose approval is needed for India to secure international cooperation for nuclear commerce.

“We have taken note that the U.S. and India are making further contact on this (nuclear) issue,” Mr. Liu said. — PTI