India 'reasonably optimistic' on high-tech exports

Friday, 05 November 2010, 06:13 IST
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New Delhi: Two days ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit, India Thursday said it was "reasonably optimistic" about the relaxation of US high-tech exports and its support for joining elite nuclear clubs like the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). "The discussions have covered considerable ground. We are reasonably optimistic about the outcome," Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters here ahead of the Nov 6-9 visit of Obama to India. She was asked if India expected US support to join elite nuclear clubs like the NSG, the Australia Group and Wassenaar Arrangement that control global trade in sensitive dual-use technologies. Asked about Obama's remarks that the easing of high-tech exports was a difficult issue, Rao sought to downplay it and warned against jumping to hasty conclusions. With an eye on joining groups like the NSG, National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon Tuesday underlined New Delhi's strong commitment to non-proliferation, an issue that will figure in discussions between leaders of the two countries next week.
Source: IANS
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