Monday, March 27 2006 16:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Beijing: With Australia remaining non-committal on supplying uranium to India, China today (Mar 27, 2006) said Canberra has done a 'good job' in observing the obligations under the non-proliferation treaty.

"With regard to Australia's cooperation in the uranium with India, I believe that Australia has done a good job in observing the obligations of non-proliferation in the international community," a senior Chinese diplomat told reporters at a briefing on Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's April 1 to four visit to Australia.

China is set to sign a landmark uranium deal with Australia next week.

"We have also taken note that Australia has said that it is going to observe the obligations under the non-proliferation treaty," Director General of the North American and Oceanian Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Liu Jieyi said.

His comments came days after China, a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) reportedly raised critical questions about the historic Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement in violation of the NPT as well as NSG regulations.

Australia had previously refused to sell uranium to India unless New Delhi signs the NPT.

But Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, who has been recently briefed by US President George W Bush on the US-India civilian nuclear agreement, has recently indicated that he could reconsider Canberra's position.

Australia is also slated to send officials to New Delhi and Washington to find out more about the Indo-US nuclear agreement.