 "NSG to take up Pakistan, India's membership requests this week")
Amidst stiff opposition by China to India's entry into Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), France on Wednesday strongly backed New Delhi's case, saying it will bolster global efforts against nuclear proliferation and asking members states to take a positive decision in the Seoul plenary meeting.
A key member of the 48-nation grouping, France also asserted that India's participation in nuclear control regimes will help in better regulation of sensitive goods exports, whether they are nuclear, chemical, biological, ballistic or conventional materials and technologies.
France considers that India's entry into the four multilateral export control regimes such as NSG, Missile Technology Control Regime, The Australia Group, The Wassenaar Arrangement will bolster international efforts for combating proliferation.
"In line with its active and long-standing support to India's entry to the NSG as a full-fledged member, France calls on its members, who are meeting on 23 June in Seoul, to take a positive decision," the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The Ministry also mentioned that strategic partners since 1998, France and India share common goals regarding non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.
These goals were reaffirmed during the visit of the President of the French Republic to India, from 24 to 26 January 2016, it added. The French President was the Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.
On Wednesday, the US White House had in a statement said India was ready for NSG membership and asked participating governments to support India's application at the plenary session of NSG in Seoul starting on Thursday.
China maintains opposition to India's entry, arguing that it has not signed Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). However, it has been batting for its close ally Pakistan's entry if NSG extends any exemption for India.
India has asserted that being a signatory to the NPT was not essential for joining the NSG as there has been a precedent in this regard, citing the case of France.
