Terror, NSG should not be issues between India, China: FS

New Delhi, Sep 9 (PTI) India today said sanctioning ofwell-known terrorist leaders and organisations besidesdevelopmental issues like access to cooperation andinvestments in the field of civil nuclear energy should notemerge as points of difference with a "partner" like China. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said that China isexpected to be appreciative of India’s interests, especiallywhen they are not in conflict with those of Beijing, andnoted that it is imperative for the future of Asia and theworld, that the two nations approach each other with strategicmaturity. He admitted that bilateral ties with China were"complicated" but stressed that one should not approach therelationship as a zero sum game. "There is an expectation in India that a partner likeChina would be appreciative of India’s interests, especiallywhen they are not in conflict with those of China. "Combating terrorism is one such area and sanctioning ofwell-known terrorist leaders and organisations should notemerge as an issue of difference. Nor should reservations ondevelopmental issues, such as India’s predictable access tointernational cooperation and investments in the field ofcivil nuclear energy," he said speaking at a conference here. Jaishankar was referring to China blocking India’s bid toput Pakistan-based terrorist Masood Azhar’s on UN SecurityCouncil blacklist of groups linked to al-Qaeda or IslamicState and India’s entry in the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Admitting that India and China have a "complicatedrelationship", the Foreign Secretary said one should notignore the collaborative and convergent side of the ties aswell. Sino-Indian ties are a subject of heightened attention.Part of the reason is the weight of history that thisparticular relationship carries on its shoulders, he said. Some of it also arises from the great potential that itholds and the impact that its direction could have on regionaland global politics. "The report card of our ties for the last three decadesis much stronger than many assume," he said. Noting that from a situation of limited contacts andcontent, India-China relations have today transitioned out oftheir state of abnormalcy, Jaishankar said one must give duecredit to the efforts of successive governments on both sideswho have ensured peace and tranquillity on the border, even asnegotiations on its settlement continue. "Difficult problems, some of them pertaining tosovereignty, have not been side-stepped," he said. MORE PTISAPRT