China to play constructive role in NSG Plenary Meeting in Seoul

Beijing, June 22 : Noting that the upcoming Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Plenary Meeting on June 23 in Seoul is only to deliberate on the entry application of countries that are state parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), China said that it hopes to further discuss the issue and added that it will play a constructive role in the discussions.
“Deliberation on the entry of specific countries is on the agenda of the Seoul Plenary Meeting. However, it is worth noting that the meeting is only to deliberate on the entry application of countries that are state parties to the NPT,” the office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.It, however made it clear that the agenda of Seoul Plenary Meeting circulated by the chair does not include the entry of non- NPT countries in the group.”As for the entry of non- NPT countries, the group has never put that on its meeting agenda. Based on what we have at hand, the agenda of this year’s Seoul Plenary Meeting circulated by the Chair does not include this issue either,” the Office added.It further clarified that discussions on the entry application of non-NPT countries has not been blocked.”The NSG has never put the entry application of non-NPT countries on its agenda. So, it makes no sense to say that discussions are blocked,” it said.The spokesperson’s office revealed that the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group has had three unofficial discussions on various issues related to the entry of non-NPT countries through the Friends of Chair platform, which was presided over by the Argentine Ambassador.”Although parties are yet to see eye to eye on this issue, such discussions help them better understand each other. China hopes to further discuss this issue and will play a constructive role in the discussions,” the Office added.