India can bank on Chinese nuclear fuel, says Left

The Left parties today welcomed the pact between India and China on civilian nuclear energy and said if the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) failed to approve the Indo-US nuclear deal, India "could have an independent understanding with China on this regard."

Chinese President Hu Jintao, who met the Left leaders today, asked them to use their clout to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Jintao is learnt to have said that in this era of globalisation, the Left has to play a "creative role" in protecting the interests of the people.

The Left team which met Jintao included CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat, CPI General Secretary AB Bardhan and All India Forward Bloc leader Debabrata Biswas.

Karat, denying reports of Jintao telling them "to adopt a pragmatic approach" to globalisation said, "No such discussion took place with the Chinese president."

The reports quoted Jintao telling the Left that globalisation provided scope for economic prosperity and a more "pragmatic and positive approach must be adopted by the Left parties in India to develop infrastructure and the economy."

On nuclear fuel supplies, Yechury said, "We should not forget that it was China which had supplied fuel for Tarapore nuclear power plant in 1995 when we were facing difficulties. China is also a member of the NSG."

Jintao, on his part, called for greater political interaction between the two countries. In a sign of pragmatism with which China views its ties with India, Jintao said business was the new focal point while the resolution of the boundary issue was a "strategic goal."

Backing improvement in Indo-Pak relations, Jintao said his country sought no "selfish gains" in South Asia and was ready to play a "constructive role" for peace and development in the sub-continent.

"China welcomes and supports improvement in relations between India and Pakistan," Hu, who starts his visit to Islamabad tomorrow, said.

Pending the final settlement of the boundary issue, the two countries should maintain peace and tranquillity on the borders, Jintao said. The two countries had yesterday decided not to allow the boundary dispute to affect relations on other fronts.

Jintao said the Sino-Indian relations had acquired a global dimension. "In enhancing Sino-Indian relationship, we need to both boost bilateral cooperation and be global and future-oriented in outlook."

Hu said India's development would boost the standing of Asia, increase the strength of developing countries and promote peace and development in Asia and the world.

"The development endeavours of China and India are mutually reinforcing, not mutually exclusive," he said.