Obama admin urges approval of new US-China nuke agreement

Washington, May 12: The Obama administration is urging US senators to support a new 30-year agreement with China on civilian nuclear cooperation.

That's despite lingering concerns that Chinese companies are exporting sensitive technology to Iran and North Korea. Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Countryman told the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations today that China's nonproliferation record has "improved markedly" since the last agreement was signed in 1985, "though it can still do better." The current agreement expires at the end of the year.

President Barack Obama submitted the new agreement to lawmakers last month for a period of review lasting 90 days when Congress is sitting. If unopposed by a joint resolution or legislation, the agreement goes into force. The top-ranking Republican and Democratic senators both said Tuesday that concerns persist over China's proliferation record.

AP