Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said here Thursday that China appreciates the efforts Britain, France and Germany have made in addressing Iran nuclear issues and welcomes the agreement reached between the European trio and Iran.

"China hopes the two sides could go ahead with the equal negotiation and agree on a long-term resolution to the Iran nuclear issues as early as possible," spokesman Liu Jianchao said at a regular press conference.

Iran and the European trio resumed the talks in Brussels on Monday to discuss the implementation of the Paris Agreement reached between the two sides on Nov. 7.

When asked to comment on Mohamed El Baradei seeking for the third term as director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Liu said China appreciates the work El Baradei has done and supports his bid to stay on.

Since his assumption as IAEA chief, El Baradei has successfully led this UN nuclear watchdog agency and safeguard IAEA's role and reputation in preventing the nuclear proliferation, Liu said.

"He has promoted the development of peaceful utilization of nuclear energy and is widely acclaimed by the international community," Liu said.

El Baradei, 62, an Egyptian diplomat, began to lead the IAEA in1997 and his current term will expire in 2005.

Source: Xinhua