China urges restraint on Iran issue

China yesterday reiterated its position on peacefully solving the Iran nuclear issue, urging all parties to keep calm and be patient. Today the United Nation's atomic watchdog reports on Teheran's activities.

"We do think the Iranian nuclear issue is at a crucial stage," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a regular press briefing in Beijing.

He said he hoped all parties concerned could keep calm and exercise restraint to create favourable conditions for a diplomatic solution.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei is to report to the agency's board and UN Security Council today on whether Iran has stopped enriching uranium.

Qin said China will pay close attention to the report and hopes it will make an objective evaluation of the issue. He said a diplomatic solution is the correct choice and is in the interests of all sides, urging all parties to avoid measures that could worsen the situation.

It was reported that on Tuesday China rejected a US proposal to order Iran to suspend enrichment under legally binding UN provisions. And it wants the IAEA board to consider ElBaradei's report before the Security Council addresses the issue.

One-China principle

The spokesman also urged the United States to abide by the three Sino-US joint communiqus and not to grant a transit visa to Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian for his planned stopover.

"We resolutely oppose Taiwan leaders going to the United States for activities in any name and using any excuse," Qin said.

He emphasized that the Chinese Government has always dealt with Taiwan's international activities with the one-China principle.

It is reported that Chen is negotiating with the US Government on whether he can stop en route to his so-called diplomatic allies in Latin America.

Source: China Daily