Sunday, November 13 2005 12:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: India today (Nov 13, 2005) said China's request for associating itself with SAARC as an Observer or Dialogue Partner can be considered 'once the criteria and modalities' for such an association have been worked out.

New Delhi, however, maintained that in the meantime, it was 'willing to support the conclusion' of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation with China on the same lines as SAARC already has with Japan, Germany, Canada and the European Union.

"On the issue of China's request to be associated with SAARC as an Observer or Dialogue Partner, India's position is that this request along with others can be considered once the criteria and modalities for such association have been worked out," the Indian External Affairs Ministry clarified in a statement issued here.

"These will be the subject of discussion at the special session of the Standing Committee scheduled to be held in 2006," the statement said.

"However, in the meantime, India is willing to support the conclusion of an MoU on cooperation with China, on the same lines as SAARC already has with Japan, Germany, Canada and the European Union. This will enable SAARC to respond immediately and positively to China's desire to engage SAARC in mutually-beneficial cooperation," the statement said.

The Ministry made it clear that 'India does not believe that there is any link' between the question of Afghanistan's membership and the issue of China's association with SAARC.

On Afghanistan, it said India has fully supported its inclusion as the SAARC's eighth member country but a decision in this regard can be taken by consensus among the Heads of State or Government at the 13th Summit.