Iran nuclear issue should be resolved through diplomacy, negotiation, FM says

The Iran nuclear issue should be resolved through diplomatic channels and negotiation, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Tuesday.

"We support the maintenance of nuclear non-proliferation mechanism, oppose nuclear weapon proliferation and resolve the Iran nuclear issue as early as possible through diplomacy and negotiation," said Li.

He stressed that it is very important for the international community to keep the consensus of resolving the issue diplomatically as there is still room for resolving the issue under the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The international community should not give up efforts toward this goal.

He hoped negotiations on the issue would yield positive results and called on all parties concerned to remain calm, restrained, patient and flexible to seek a diplomatic solution.

China is ready to maintain communication and coordination with all nations concerned for properly resolving the issue and for peace, he said.

Zhang Yan, director of the Department of Arms Control and Disarmament under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is now in Vienna working on the issue, he said.

Li also said China is willing to continue the traditional friendly relations with Palestine and seriously consider its requests for further assistance.

"China and Palestine enjoy a profound traditional friendship, and China has been providing support and assistance to Palestine within its capacity," Li said.

Peaceful means and political negotiation are the correct road to the settlement of the Middle East issue. It is China's hope that Palestine and Israel could continue to observe the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and the principle of "land for peace," and resolve their differences through dialogue, he said.

"China firmly support the Middle East peace process and has been mediating among the parties concerned in its own ways," Li said.

"We will continue to cooperate with the parties concerned and play a constructive role for an early realization of peace and stability in the Middle East," he said.

The Sino-Arabic relations are developing smoothly. Since the Sino-Arabic forum was founded, the two sides carried out close cooperation. The forum developed rapidly. Last year the second CEO meeting of the Sino-Arabic entrepreneurship forum was held. The two sides also launched cooperative training program on human resources, Li said.

All the progress show that the forum has become a new platform to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between China and the Arab countries. This year the second Sino-Arabic ministerial meeting will be held in Beijing, said Li.

He said, "We are willing to make efforts with all Arab nations to deepen cooperation of the forum in different fields and promote the Sino-Arabic relations to develop consistently in the new period."