There was no change in China's stand on India's NSG membership bid: Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang.

There was no change in China's stand on India's NSG membership bid: Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang.

Source: www.business-standard.com

GOA: China once again refused India's bid to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, stating that there was conflict between members of the group regarding the latter's inclusion.

Before the BRICS summit commences in Goa tomorrow, China once again thwarted India's bid to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. The Chinese Foreign Minister said some members of the NSG had reservations over India joining the group.

Issues such as India's NSG membership bid and China blocking UN ban on JeM chief and Pathankot attack mastermind Masood Azhar are likely to be raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday.

A range of key bilateral and international issues including ways to tackle threat of terrorism besides security situation in the region are also likely to figure in the talks on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.

Ahead of Saturday's meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said in Beijing on Friday that there was no change in China's stand on India's NSG membership bid and New Delhi's attempts to get Azhar designated as a terrorist by the UN.

"Until and unless there is not consensus on India becoming a member of the NSG, China cannot support its claim," said the Chinese Foreign Minister.

The conference begins tomorrow in Goa when leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) will meet to discuss common issues.

This is not the first time that China has signified that it would not support India's bid to become a member of the NSG. China has also not supported India's move to have Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in the United Nations.