China refuses to budge on India's NSG bid, Azhar's banning

New Delhi: On the eve of President Xi Jinping's India visit, China on Friday stuck to its guns saying that there was no change in its stand on India's NSG membership bid and New Delhi's attempts to get JeM chief Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist by the UN. As Xi is due to arrive in Goa on Saturday to take part in the BRICS summit, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said the relations between India and China made "great headway" despite some "disputes" but there was no change in Beijing's stand on the issues of NSG and Azhar. "I have stated China's position. I would like to reiterate that the UN committee dealing with the listing does it according to provisions of the UN charter," he said while replying to a question on India's application to ban Azhar following the Pathankot terrorist attack. Geng, at a briefing, said China maintains that 1267 Committee of the UN designated to ban terrorist outfits should work on true facts and make a decision according to consensus of its members. All parties are divided in listing of the relevant people. And this is why China has put on hold banning Azhar, he said. The second technical hold put by China will give enough time to make the listing decision, Geng said, adding that this also shows the responsible and professional attitude of the Chinese side. "China's position has not changed regarding the joining of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) by India," Geng said. Speaking on the same issue earlier this month, China's vice-foreign minister Li Baodong had harped on the need to build consensus over the admission of new members in the 48-member NSG. Geng said today that he wants to "underscore" that in recent years China and India relations had been making "great headway" despite some "disputes". He said that the "mainstream of bilateral relations have been positive" and "cooperation far outweighs competition". Geng expressed hope that the two countries can continue with dialogue and cooperation to exchange views on some disputes, seek solutions and properly manage relevant disputes. Meanwhile, a Chinese scholar, Hu Shisheng, director of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations affiliated to the Chinese foreign ministry, said China may speed up the construction of the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir if Pakistan is isolated and cornered by India.

 "China has to discuss with Pakistan about the current situation on how to handle and how to come out of it," Hu said speaking about Pakistan's isolation in the region leading to the postponement of the SAARC summit after the Uri terror attack in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed.