China hopes that Russia's invitation to Iran to establish a joint-venture in uranium enrichment will help break the current stalemate on the nuclear issue, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said on Thursday.

Kong told a press conference that China supports Russia's proposal and has always backed every effort to enhance the international treaty of nuclear non-proliferation.

He added that China hopes the international society can reach an agreement through talks on a level playing field to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy by all countries.

Russia's top nuclear energy official Sergei Kiriyenko said on Wednesday that a high-ranking Iranian delegation will visit Russia on February 16 to discuss the proposal. Iran may become the first state to be involved in uranium enrichment on Russian territory.

Kong said China looks forward to a positive outcome to the talks.

As part of international efforts to solve the Iranian nuclear dispute, Russia has proposed that uranium enrichment - the most sensitive part of the nuclear energy process - be carried out under a joint-venture within their borders.

Iran resumed research on uranium enrichment last month and announced it had ended all voluntary cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This included impromptu UN inspections of its nuclear sites and suspension of uranium enrichment after the IAEA voted last week to report the Iranian nuclear issue to the UN Security Council.

Uranium enriched at low levels can fuel nuclear reactors, but if enriched further can be used for nuclear weapons.

Source: Xinhua