China willing to work with India in UN on fighting terror: Prez

Mukherjee, who met the top Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping on Thursday, also expressed hope that China will play a “positive and facilitative role” in ensuring a predictable environment for India in its pursuit of civil nuclear programme in bridging the huge power deficit the country faces.

His statement on the two issues, in his interaction with the media on board Air India One aircraft on his way back home, assume significance in the context of China’s recent action in blocking a UN move to designate Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and Beijing’s stand that India should sign the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) for gaining admission to the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

The Chinese stand is seen as a bid to scuttle India’s membership of the NSG and New Delhi has dismissed the Chinese proposition. “Terrorism was an important topic which I covered in my meetings,” the President said. During his discussion with the Chinese leadership, he conveyed to them that there was universal concern over growing acts of terrorism.

“India has been a victim of terrorism for around three-and-a-half decades. There is no good terrorist or bad terrorist. Terrorism respects neither ideology nor geographical boundaries. Wanton destruction is its only aim,” he said. 

The President added: “Comprehensive cooperation by all countries of the world is essential to tackle this global menace. The international community must engage in strong and effective action. As close neighbours, India and China should work together. The Chinese leadership agreed that terrorism was a menace to the entire human race. They conveyed their willingness to enhance cooperation, including in the UN.” 

Asked if the specific “current problem” with China, an apparent reference to the Masood Azhar issue, came up in his talks with the Chinese leaders, the President said, “We don’t discuss any specific issue during President’s visit. We confine ourselves to overall policy issues and not confined to specific issues. This was decided when I was External Affairs Minister.”

On the nuclear issue, President Mukherjee said he conveyed to the Chinese leaders that India faces acute energy shortage and was engaged in efforts to significantly expand power generation in the 

country.