China and India will soon hold talks over the contentious issue of India's bid for membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).  

"The talks between Chinese lead negotiator and Director-General of the Arms Control Division Wang Qun and his Indian counterpart Amandeep Singh Gill may open scope for agreement on stumbling points like the clause of signing NPT where China has an issue," Indian government sources told Daily Pioneer newspaper.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to discuss India's NSG membership with U.S. President Barack during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of upcoming G20 Summit in China. The issue was also raised during the ongoing conference of women's parliamentarians from BRICS nations in the western Indian city of Jaipur.

India applied for NSG membership on May 12 this year with the support of the United States. However, China blocked New Delhi's bid to gain entry into the elite grouping at NSG plenary meet in South Korea's capital, Seoul in June.

At least 16 member countries including China, Brazil, Ireland, South Africa, Norway, New Zealand, Austria, and Switzerland also oppose India's attempt to earn NSG membership, arguing that non-Nuclear Proliferation Treaty signatory countries cannot become members of the NSG. India, on the other hand, has made it clear that it will never sign the NPT.

The NSG issue led to further deterioration of bilateral ties between two Asian powers. India and China have also been engaged in a bitter territorial dispute in their Himalayan border. Both countries are now developing massive military infrastructure to the border area. 

TagsIndia, china, NSG, G20, Narendra Modi, President Xi Jinping