China stresses diplomatic solution to Iran nuclear issue

China Tuesday reiterated that the Iranian nuclear issue should be solved through enhanced diplomatic efforts, amid international pressure to push for a fourth round of sanctions against Iran.



Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang addressed the first press briefing in Beijing after the Lunar New Year and said China had taken note of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on the Iran nuclear issue and hopes "the Iranian side continues to cooperate with the IAEA on related issues."



In the report the IAEA said it was concerned about possible activity in Iran to develop a nuclear payload for a missile and confirmed that Iran`s first batch of 20 percent highly enriched uranium had been produced, adding that the country had failed to give inspectors the required advance notice.



"China holds that the parties should continue to step up diplomatic efforts in a bid to maintain and promote the process of dialogue and negotiations," said Qin, "China hopes the parties demonstrate more flexibility and create conditions conducive to a comprehensive and proper solution to the Iran nuclear issue through diplomatic means."



Western powers suspect Iran of attempting to build nuclear weapons. But Teheran says its nuclear program is aimed at generating nuclear energy for civilian purposes.



The Teheran Times reported on Monday that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) director Ali-Akbar Salehi said Iran plans to start building two new uranium enrichment facilities in the next Iranian calendar year which begins on March 21. Qin also told reporters Israeli Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya`alon will come to China for a three-day visit on tomorrow, and meet with State Councilor Dai Bingguo for discussions on bilateral ties, as well as regional and international issues.



To a foreign correspondent`s query - Whether the visit is part of Israeli`s diplomatic campaign to impose sanctions on Iran? - Qin said China hopes the Middle East will achieve and maintain peace and stability.



"China stands firmly on the position of non-nuclear proliferation, and hopes all parties in the Middle East will deliver concrete actions and efforts to rebuild mutual confidence and peace for the region," he said.



The Jerusalem Post reported on Feb 4 that Ya`alon said, "The Iranian regime must be told to choose between the bomb and survival."



Aside from the vice Prime Minister, the high-level delegation will include Stanley Fischer, Israel`s bank governor, who used to work in the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.



Harretz.com in Israel reported that the focus of the talks will be on the Iranian nuclear program and sanctions, as well as political, security and economic discussions.



Israel has previously attached more importance to dialogues with the other four permanent UN Security Council members.



At his weekly press conference Tuesday, Iran`s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Iran "is ready for cooperation with the IAEA on providing fuel for Tehran research reactor", but added that: "In order to bring about a constructive interaction, we have declared our readiness for a fuel swap, provided it is done within the country (Iran)."



The US and its allies want the swap to be done outside the country.



Meanwhile Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak was to travel to the US Tuesday for talks on curbing Iran`s nuclear program, according to AFP.



The report said Barak planned to meet several senior US officials including Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as well as UN chief Ban Ki-moon in New York during the five-day visit.





By Ai Yang

China Daily/Asia News Network