China urges Iran, Europe to resume nuclear talks
China has urged Iran to resume negotiations with the international community in a fresh attempt to end their long-running standoff over its nuclear programme.
By Agencies |
BEIJING: China has urged Iran to resume negotiations with the international community in a fresh attempt to end their long-running standoff over its nuclear programme, state press reported on Friday.
"The Iranian nuclear issue is now at a crucial moment," Xinhua news agency quoted Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi as telling Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, who is visiting Beijing, in talks late Thursday.
"China hopes all concerned parties, including Iran, make joint efforts to resume negotiations as soon as possible in a bid to promote the comprehensive and proper settlement of this issue."
Jalili, who arrived here Thursday, is thought to be seeking Beijing's help to ward off another UN Security Council resolution against Tehran.
Yang met with Jalili one day after separate talks with visiting US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, who is seeking Chinese support for a fresh resolution on Iran that would contain binding sanctions.
Negroponte said he would continue that push during twice-yearly high-level bilateral talks being held Friday in southwestern China's Guizhou city, with Deputy Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo.
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany are to meet in Berlin to discuss a possible new round of sanctions.
Britain, France and Germany have been leading efforts to persuade Iran to halt uranium enrichment to prove it is not trying to acquire nuclear weapons.
Iran denies Western charges that it is seeking nuclear arms, insisting its programme is peaceful and aimed at providing civilian energy.
Last week, after the head of the UN atomic watchdog agency visited Tehran, Iran agreed to clear up all outstanding issues about its atomic drive within four weeks.
China, which has growing energy ties with Tehran, routinely calls for further talks rather than aggressive UN action against Iran.
"The Iranian nuclear issue is now at a crucial moment," Xinhua news agency quoted Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi as telling Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, who is visiting Beijing, in talks late Thursday.
"China hopes all concerned parties, including Iran, make joint efforts to resume negotiations as soon as possible in a bid to promote the comprehensive and proper settlement of this issue."
Jalili, who arrived here Thursday, is thought to be seeking Beijing's help to ward off another UN Security Council resolution against Tehran.
Yang met with Jalili one day after separate talks with visiting US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, who is seeking Chinese support for a fresh resolution on Iran that would contain binding sanctions.
Negroponte said he would continue that push during twice-yearly high-level bilateral talks being held Friday in southwestern China's Guizhou city, with Deputy Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo.
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The five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany are to meet in Berlin to discuss a possible new round of sanctions.
Britain, France and Germany have been leading efforts to persuade Iran to halt uranium enrichment to prove it is not trying to acquire nuclear weapons.
Iran denies Western charges that it is seeking nuclear arms, insisting its programme is peaceful and aimed at providing civilian energy.
Last week, after the head of the UN atomic watchdog agency visited Tehran, Iran agreed to clear up all outstanding issues about its atomic drive within four weeks.
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China, which has growing energy ties with Tehran, routinely calls for further talks rather than aggressive UN action against Iran.
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