'China and India do not need terror, NSG as issues'

S Jaishankar. Pic/AFP

S Jaishankar. Pic/AFP

New Delhi: Speaking about the relationship between India and China, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar yesterday said the two nations should approach each other with strategic maturity. He also said that terrorism and India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) should not emerge as issues between the two countries.

Describing the bilateral ties as "complicated," he said but one should not ignore the collaborative and convergent side of the relationship as well.

Asserting that India expected China to be appreciative of its interests, especially when they are not in conflict with those of Beijing, he said, "Combating terrorism is one such area and sanctioning of well-known terrorist leaders and organisations should not emerge as an issue of difference. Nor should reservations on developmental issues, such as India's predictable access to international cooperation and investments in the field of civil nuclear energy."

Jaishankar was referring to China blocking India's bid to get a UN ban on Pakistan-based terrorist and JeM chief Masood Azhar as well as Beijing scuttling India's entry in the NSG.