'India to talk to China at all levels on amending NSG rules'

Kumarakom, Mar 12 (UNI) India will talk to China ''at all levels'' on making the necessary changes in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) rules for supply of nuclear fuel to India, following the India-US agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan said today.

Talking to reporters here before resuming the seventh round of political representative talks with Chinese Executive Vice-Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo on the border issue, Mr Narayanan said that talks will be held at the Prime Ministerial, ambassadorial and foreign secretary levels besides between the political representatives on the civilian nuclear cooperation issue.

''We will talk to China and the other Nuclear Suppliers Group countries to agree to what the United States is proposing on the issue,Ғ he added.

Mr Dai, however refused to comment on the issue, stating that China had noted that India had signed an agreement with the US on civilian nuclear cooperation. ''However, my job this time is to talk on the border issue,'' he added.

Talking of the India-US agreement, Mr Narayanan said that India had made it clear that the agreement related to civilian nuclear cooperation between India and the US. ''It has nothing to do with China or any fears that the Americans are trying to use this as a tool to check or contain China,'' he added.

UNI ARC VD KN1719