On Board Air India One: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said India has sought Chinese support to get the Indo-US nuclear deal pushed at the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG). However, the Prime Minister said the Chinese authorities gave "no assurance" of the same.
Singh told newsmen - on board the special aircraft from Beijing to Delhi - that he did not think China would be an "obstacle".
"I cannot say I have got a firm definite answer but my own feeling is that the relationship of trust and confidence is now establishing and we are succeeding in that. When the issues comes before relevant agencies I do not think China will be an obstacle. I can't say I have an assurance today," he said.
He also said there was no time limit for clearing the processes with the IAEA and NSG though there were some "issues" to be sorted out.
China is an important and influential member of the 45-member NSG.
When asked if the Left parties will change their position after the Chinese support, Manmohan Singh gave a curt reply. "You should ask them," he said.
The Prime Minister spoke about the "mindset" of decision-makers like politicians, ministers, scientists and others when asked by a reporter about how confident he was about changing the "mindset" of the Left parties on the deal.
"Let me say it is an essay in mutual comprehension and mutual persuasion. That effort is on and there is no doubt that We have to take an early decision. The IAEA has to first clear the deal. We have made progress but we have to still sort out some issues. There is no deadline,” he said.
The Prime Minister answered a wide range of questions from China's support to Indo-US nuclear deal to issues like situation in Pakistan, de-limitation and petroleum prices.
Singh said China was "shocked" by the assassination of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto and wanted the leaderships of India and China to "consult each other more often" on the situation in that country.
"I did get a feeling while talking to President Hu Jintao that the Chinese leadership is concerned about the situation. They were shocked by the death Benazir Bhutto, her assassination," the prime minister told reporters accompanying him on his return from a three-day visit to China.
Manmohan Singh said: "President Hu recognised the problems in Pakistan and agreed that a strong, stable, moderate Pakistan is in India's interests and in the interests of Asia."
He felt that it was "necessary for both India and China to consult each other more frequently on the issue".
Comments
0 comment