China calls for balance of nuke nonproliferation, energy use

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-02 19:51

BEIJING - China's Foreign Ministry said here on Tuesday that the country hopes the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) can resolve the relationship between nonproliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy in a balanced way.

"China hopes the NSG finds a way to strike a balance between nuclear nonproliferation and the peaceful use of energy," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a routine press conference.

Jiang's remarks came before a new round of talks in Vienna scheduled for Thursday and Friday on nuclear cooperation between India and the United States.

Jiang said China has a consistent and clear stance on the issue of India-US nuclear cooperation.

China has taken an active part in the NSG discussions, Jiang said.

"China believes that all countries have the right to peacefully use nuclear energy and conduct international cooperation in line with the nonproliferation obligation."

Cooperation should be conducive to safeguarding the completeness and effectiveness of the international nonproliferation system, Jiang added.

The 45-member NSG ended a two-day conference in Vienna on August 22, with no agreement on whether to lift a ban on nuclear trade with India.

The NSG member countries decided to meet again on September 4-5 to try to resolve difference over whether to allow nuclear fuel and technology exports to India for civilian use.