Sushma Swaraj to woo China to back India's NSG bid

The External Affairs Minister said China is merely talking about procedure on joining NSG and not opposing India

New Delhi: As India makes a determined bid to get a Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday said that China was not opposing its entry even as Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar made an unannounced visit to Beijing on June 16-17 to secure its support.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj  File Pic

Stating that China is talking only about the criteria and procedures to be adopted for membership of the elite 48-nation atomic trading bloc, Swaraj said India was hopeful that it will be able to convince China to give its backing.

Swaraj also said that India was confident of getting the membership this year. “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 said.

Swaraj said that instead of talking about criteria with respect to India’s bid, its credentials should be discussed. The Minister said as far as entry of Pakistan is concerned, India, being a non-member, cannot comment. “But we will not oppose entry of any nation to the NSG. We think that the application of each country should be considered on the basis of their merit,” she added.

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