Sunday, November 20, 2005
China, US sign agreement on preventing illegal nuke trade
Press Trust of India
Beijing, November 20, 2005
China, which is often accused of shipping nuclear and sensitive technology to countries like Iran and Pakistan, has inked an agreement with the United States to prevent illegal trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive material.
Representatives from China's General Administration of Customs and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and the US Department of Energy signed the MoU on Saturday.
The MoU aims at further promoting the cooperation in the fields of anti-terrorism and non-proliferation between the two nations, Chinese Foreign Ministry sources said.
In the past, US State Department has slapped sanctions on many Chinese companies for "transferring" sensitive technology and material to countries like Iran and Pakistan. However, Beijing terms the sanctions as "groundless," citing the country's adherence to its international commitments.
© HT Media Ltd. 2005.