India ready to address China's concerns over NSG membership; urges Beijing to reconsider stand on Masood Azhar at UN

New Delhi: Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was told on Saturday that his government should revisit its technical hold on listing of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammad terror group chief Maulana Masood Azhar in United Nations' banned list.

Government sources said China’s technical hold on listing of Masood Azhar in UNSC 1267 Committee was taken up when Wang Yi called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj here today.

During the meeting with Sushma Swaraj, the Chinese foreign minister was urged to revisit his country's technical hold in line with its own professed zero tolerance towards terrorism.

The issue of India's membership bid for the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), which was blocked by China, was also raised during the meeting, sources were quoted as saying by ANI news agency.

Sushma Swaraj told his Chinese counterpart that New Delhi was ready to discuss any technical issues which Beijing may have with regard to India's NSG membership bid.

India also conveyed its concerns to the Chinese minister on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which is currently under development and passes through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Situation on the border was also reviewed and further steps discussed to strengthen peace and tranquility.

Interestingly, the Chinese foreign minister did not bring up the controversial issue of South China Sea, on which Beijing had recently faced a setback when a UN-affiliated tribunal ruled against its ownership claims.

Wang Yi had on Friday said that it was for India to decide whether it wants to support China on the South China Sea dispute.

"It is up to India what position it has to take," the minister said in Goa when asked whether his visit was aimed at seeking India's support on the issue.

Earlier, Chinese state-run Global Times newspaper had said in an editorial on Tuesday, “India may want to avoid unnecessary entanglement with China over the South China Sea debate during Wang's visit if the country wishes to create a good atmosphere for economic cooperation, which would include reducing tariffs on made-in-India products exported to China amid the ongoing free trade talk known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership."