China's nod to India's ambitions of nuclear energy development

Sydney, Mar 30 (UNI) In what is being seen as Beijing's bid against the US policy to contain the Asian superpower, the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has clarified that his country has no objection to India's ambitions of developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

''India is a friendly neighbour of China, which approves India co-operating with other countries in nuclear power generation,'' Mr Wen told The Australian newspaper in a front page interview two days before his arrival in Australia for a short trip.

Mr Wen is believed to be visiting Australia to sign two historical uranium deals.

The proposed agreement, which has already sent the local uranium stocks on a mind-numbing share price rises, will not only facilitate uranium exports to China but also allow Chinese miners to explore and produce uranium in Australia.

The Chinese Prime Minister's approving words have given wind to the market rumours that Australia is all set to agree to export uranium to India irrespective of the fact that the South Asian country is not a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Australian politician have been making noises in the recent past that India would not be able get a piece of the vast uranium reserves down under.

Australia holds over 40 per cent of the global uranium reserves but has a strict export policy as far as uranium, also known as yellowcake, is concerned.

Australia is in a pole position to export the highly valuable nuclear fuel to energy starved India to run her existing and planned power plants.

Mr Wen is scheduled to meet the Prime Minsiter of the resource-rich Western Australia Alan Carpenter about China's demand for various resources.

China is also making greenhouse emission an issue to promote 'clean' nuclear energy.

''The peaceful use of nuclear energy for power generation is an important means to develop clean energy and reduce pollution, especially the emission of greenhouse gases. That is why many countries are going in for nuclear energy and have entered into co-operation in this field,'' the Chinese leader told The Australian.

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