Commenting on the lift of a global ban on nuclear trade with India, China said cooperation should help maintain the integrity and validity of the international nuclear nonproliferation system.

"China always advocates that all countries are entitled to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and carry out international cooperation in this regard. However, relevant cooperation should help maintain the integrity and validity of the international nuclear nonproliferation system," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu in Beijing on Monday morning.

She said China has participated relevant conferences of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) always with a responsible and constructive attitude.

Through discussions, the NSG, the regulatory body for global atomic commerce, on September 6 passed a statement on civil nuclear cooperation with India, and decided to lift the global ban on nuclear trade with the country.

"China hopes such decision would be conducive to the international cooperation on use of nuclear energy for peaceful purpose and prevention of nuclear proliferation," Jiang said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2008)