Beijing, March 26: China on Thursday underlined the need for diplomacy and negotiation to solve the row over Iran’s nuclear programme as it was ready to play its role to end the deadlock.
“To achieve a comprehensive long-term solution, China is willing to stay in communication and consultation with all parties and play our due role in promoting peaceful talks,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told at a media briefing.
Asked about reports from UN that China, along with Russia, is pressing Iran to scale down its nuclear programme to avoid UN sanctions, Qin said China wants “proper resolution of this issue through diplomatic means, dialogue and negotiations and this is the best way out, which suits the interests of all parties so as to ensure peace and stability in that region.”
“Only peaceful negotiations and diplomatic means can yield good results and we always say that we have to achieve a balance between input and output”.
“We have to bear that in mind so that the concerns of all parties should be taken into consideration to support international nuclear non-proliferation and regional peace and security and stability to enhance mutual trust and flexibility,” he said.
Earlier, media reports quoted British UN Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant as saying that Beijing seems to be ready for serious discussions on new sanctions against Iran.
“My understanding is that they have agreed to engage substantively,” he was quoted in the media today as saying.
China steadfastly opposed sanctions against Iran. Russia, a staunch supporter of Iran said it is readiness for limited sanctions against Iran.
—Agencies