PM Modi thanks Japan for supporting India's NGS membership bid

Tokyo [Japan], Nov. 11 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed gratitude to his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe for the support extended for India's membership bid to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). "I wish to thank Prime Minister Abe for the support extended for India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group," Vikas Swarup, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) quoted Prime Minister Modi as saying. India and Pakistan are the two non-NPT states aspiring for the membership of the 48-member international nuclear trade body. Many countries, including China, had opposed India's bid to join the NSG at its last meeting in June citing that the latter has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which is the basic criteria to enter the NSG. During a state visit to India in November 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama announced U.S. support for India's participation in the NSG. During a visit to India in December 2010, French President Sarkozy also expressed his country's backing for India's inclusion in the NSG. United Kingdom has for a long time been a supporter of India's inclusion in the group. Russian president Vladimir Putin has also offered unconditional support to India's entry into the NSG. Switzerland also announced its backing on India's Membership in 48 member group on 6 June 2016 during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Geneva but withdrew support later. In June 2016, India got crucial support from Mexico in its bid to become a member of the NSG ahead of a plenary meeting of the 48-nation bloc whose members are allowed to trade in and export nuclear technology. In July 2016, South Africa agreed to back India's entry into the NSG. In August 2016, Turkey confirmed support for India's NSG membership bid. In September 2016, Australia reiterated its commitment to India's bid for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group just ahead of the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China. In October this year, following the BRICS summit in Benaulim, Goa, Brazil officially backed India's bid for NSG membership. On 26 October, Prime Minister John Key Key of New Zealand stated that "New Zealand would continue to contribute constructively to the process currently underway in the NSG to consider India's membership NSG is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seek to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons. (ANI)