International - India & World   

China backs India's efforts on nuclear power

Wen Jiabao

Sydney: China on Thursday supported India's cooperation with other countries for nuclear power generation but said that non-proliferation protocols should be followed. "India is a friendly neighbour of China, which approves India cooperating with other countries in nuclear power generation," Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told The Australian newspaper in an interview.

Australia, with 40 per cent of the world's uranium reserves, is a potential leading partner in supplying uranium to India as it will be to China when Mr. Wen, arriving in Australia on Saturday, signs two ground-breaking agreements next week.

The Premier said that relevant parties should honour their obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which limits uranium sales to other signatories. India has not signed the NPT. "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 cooperation in this field," he said. Australia, meanwhile, will send a delegation to New Delhi and Washington to seek out details of a civilian nuclear energy cooperation agreement . — PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

U.K. agencies let off the hook over blasts
Hamas assumes office amid threats of isolation
Fate of French labour law hangs in balance
Taylor behind bars in Sierra Leone
Noah's Ark in Holland
Shakespeare's First Folio on sale
Danish Muslims sue newspaper
Saran, Rice discuss nuclear deal
U.S. defends civilian nuclear deal with India
Howard: No immediate change in policy towards India
Hurriyat leader meets Pakistan Prime Minister
Tall tribute to luxury
China backs India's efforts on nuclear power

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu