CHINA: Government says the Iran nuclear issue should be solved through dialogue

Record ID: 313671

  • Title: CHINA: Government says the Iran nuclear issue should be solved through dialogue
  • Date: 2nd December 2009
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (DECEMBER 1, 2009) (REUTERS) FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN QIN GANG WALKING INTO NEWS BRIEFING JOURNALISTS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN QIN GANG: "We believe under the current circumstances, all the relevant parties should continue to accelerate diplomatic efforts and try to implement the Geneva agreement as soon as possible to keep the momentum of dialogue and negotiations and seek an all-round, long-term, and proper resolution to the Iran nuclear issue." JOURNALIST LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN QIN GANG: "The aim is not to impose sanctions. We still need to stick to the goal of resolving the issue through dialogue and negotiations under the current circumstances." NEWS BRIEFING IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 17th December 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA1SJ5ITFQPKMXBTWO02S26904P
  • Story Text: China says diplomatic negotiation is the best way to deal with Iran following its weekend announcement that it plans to expand its atomic programme.
    China on Tuesday (December 1) urged accelerated diplomacy to solve the Iran nuclear issue, saying sanctions are "not the goal," despite Western outrage at Tehran's newly unveiled plans to expand uranium enrichment.
    Speaking at a regular Chinese Foreign Ministry news briefing in Beijing, spokesman Qin Gang said all parties involved in the dispute should step up negotiations and dialogue.
    "We believe under the current circumstances, all the relevant parties should continue to accelerate diplomatic efforts and try to implement the Geneva agreement as soon as possible to keep the momentum of dialogue and negotiations and seek an all-round, long-term, and proper resolution to the Iran nuclear issue," he said.
    "The aim is not to impose sanctions. We still need to stick to the goal of resolving the issue through dialogue and negotiations under the current circumstances," he added.
    Iran announced plans on Sunday to build 10 new uranium enrichment plants in a big expansion of its atomic programme, two days after the U.N. nuclear watchdog rebuked it for carrying out such work in secret.
    China supported the resolution of the International Atomic Energy Agency's board in a rare public show of exasperation at Iran.
    But Qin's comments suggest the world's number two oil consumer still has a limited appetite for confrontation with one of its biggest suppliers of crude. Iranian oil made up nearly 12 percent of China's crude imports last year and Iranian media reported last week that China's Sinopec had signed a tentative deal to provide $6.5 billion in financing for oil refinery projects in Iran.
    Beijing faces a tricky balance over Iran with Western countries urging it to back stiffer pressure, and possibly fresh U.N. sanctions, aimed at curtailing Tehran's nuclear programme, which critics say is aimed at amassing the technology to make nuclear weapons.
    Iran says its intentions are peaceful.
    China is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, so it holds veto power over any potential resolution to censure Iran or ratchet up sanctions.
    But China is generally averse to economic embargoes.
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