The historic NSG waiver to New Delhi is expected to bring about significant changes in the content of the 13th round of the Sino-India boundary talks scheduled in Beijing next week, sources said on Friday.

The September six decision by the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), which injected a high level of political self-confidence in India, is expected to bring about significant changes in the content of the border dialogue, the sources said.

National Security Adviser MK Narayanan, India's Special Representative on border talks, is expected to visit Beijing for the talks from September 17 at about the same time when the new Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari will be here.

Narayanan had expressed unhappiness over China's role at the NSG meeting as Beijing apparently tried to scuttle the India-specific waiver which enabled New Delhi to resume nuclear commerce after a gap of 34 years.

However, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who was in India recently, had expressed surprise over India's reaction.

Recent media reports have suggested that Zardari will try to persuade the Chinese leadership to sign an agreement for sale of nuclear material and technology to Pakistan along the lines of the Indo-US nuclear deal.

On its part, China has indicated it is keen to ensure that border negotiations are continued in the manner they have been held so far.

In an article published today, the People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party of China, expressed Beijing's satisfaction with the course of border talks.

It said the strategic dialogue between the two countries has yielded satisfactory results on the border issue.

China and India are also involved in consultations on a possible free trade agreement besides planning to expand trade volumes. China has replaced the United States to become India's biggest trade partner, the report said.

The 2010 target for bilateral trade has been raised from USD 40 billion to $ 60 billion, it said.

China, however, appears keen to send out signals that it would not easily sacrifice its "all weather" relationship with Pakistan for the sake of improving friendship with India.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has said that all countries are "entitled to peaceful use of nuclear energy" as long as the principals of nuclear non-proliferation are not neglected.

"It is on the pre-condition of fulfilling its international obligations that China conducts its cooperation with Pakistan for peaceful use of nuclear energy. The cooperation is totally for peaceful purpose, and is subject to IAEA safeguards and supervision," Jiang Yu, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said earlier this week.

These statements are interpreted by some Indian observers to mean that Beijing might give Zardari's proposal a patient hearing.