By Gaurav Sharma

Beijing, June 22:

On the eve of NSG's plenary in Seoul, China said on Wednesday that India's entry into the bloc was not on the agenda as New Delhi was not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Pic Courtesy: www.stylish-family.com Pic Courtesy: www.stylish-family.com

"The meeting is only to deliberate on the entry application of countries that are state parties to the NPT," the foreign ministry said. "As for the entry of non-NPT countries, the group has never put that on its agenda.

"The NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group) has never put the entry application of non-NPT countries on its agenda. So it makes no sense to say that discussions are blocked," a ministry statement added.

China opposes Indian's entry into the 48-nation NSG saying it is not a signatory to the NPT.

The NSG, which regular global nuclear commerce, works on the principle of consensus and lets in a new member only if all existing members agree.

The Chinese statement came as Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar flew to Seoul. He had earlier made a quiet visit to Beijing, apparently to seek support for New Delhi's membership.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at Tashkent during a two-day summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). (IANS)