China on Friday announced that it will continue to oppose India's bid for membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, The Financial Express reported. A spokesperson for the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said that until the United Nations Security Council arrives at a consensus, Beijing will not support New Delhi's petition that sought for the UN to designate Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist.
The statements come a day before Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to India for the eighth Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in Goa. The spokesperson said members of the UN Security Council had "differing views" on listing Azhar as a terrorist. He said, "We maintain that this committee should work on true facts and make a decision according to consensus of its members."
On October 10, Beijing had said it was "willing to jointly explore" the possibility of India joining the NSG as long as "certain rules are respected". On Friday, the Chinese spokesperson said there was no change in the country's position in this regard.
The 48-member international group monitors the export of materials or technology that can be used to create nuclear weapons. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been attempting to gather support for India's bid to join the body, but he has faced resistance from a number of countries, particularly from China and Pakistan. China has been citing India's refusal to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty – a prerequisite for membership to the NSG – as the reason for its opposition.
The listing of Pakistan-based organisations as terrorist groups in the UN and the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor have also been contentious subjects in Sino-Indian relations.
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