China expressed concern about the current situation of Iran's nuclear issue and calls for all relevant parties to assert greater diplomatic effort and restraint to avoid escalation of the situation.

The Chinese side is concerned about possible escalation of the situation, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said.

Tang expressed the wish that all parties concerned should step up diplomatic effort to create favorable conditions for the resumption of talks before the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) holds a special session of its board of governors in February.

Tang made the remarks when meeting with visiting Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani in Zhongnanhai, the headquarters of the Chinese government in Beijing, Thursday afternoon. Tang explained China's views on the current situation of Iran's nuclear issue.

The IAEA is to convene an emergency session of its board of governors next week, on which the United States and the European Union (EU) are likely to push for a vote on referring the issue to the UN Security Council. The meeting is to be held at the EU request earlier this month after Iran resumed uranium enrichment research following a two-and-half year halt.

Iran has repeatedly voiced opposition to referral of the issue and expressed willingness to resolve the issue within the framework of the IAEA.

During his meeting with State Councilor Tang, Larijani said Iran is willing to make further effort to resolve the nuclear issue through dialogue and talks.

At a separate press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said China would like to see that all parties concerned exercise great restraint and be patient.

He called the concerned parties to step up diplomatic efforts before the IAEA board meeting on Feb. 2 so as to create favorable conditions for the resumption of the talks.

Larijani, also secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, arrived in Beijing Thursday morning from Moscow for a single day visit.

He held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. The two sides exchanged views mainly on Iran's nuclear issue and other related issues concerning the growth of bilateral relations.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said China hopes that Iran's nuclear issue could be resolved peacefully through diplomatic channels.

China hoped that all parties concerned take "actual actions" to ease the current tense situation, Kong told a regular press conference Thursday afternoon.

The pivotal point is to break the deadlock in negotiations over the Iranian nuclear issue, which requires concerted efforts of all relevant parties, Kong told reporters.

"China welcomes all constructive proposals aimed at properly resolving Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic channels," Kong said.

Larijani held a press conference at the Iranian embassy before leaving Beijing for home Thursday evening.

"Iran welcomes all kinds of plans that will help resolve the issue concerning Iran's right of peaceful using of nuclear energy, " Larijani said.

Source: Xinhua