China calls for increased cooperation between Iran and IAEA
May 28, 2012 - 17:6
TEHRAN - Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin has called on Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency to increase their cooperation to help resolve the dispute over the country’s nuclear program.
Liu made the remarks during a press conference in Beijing on Monday in reply to a question about IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano’s most recent report about Iran’s nuclear activities, which was published on May 25, the China Daily reported.
China is studying the IAEA report, Liu said.
China has welcomed the recent active interactions between the IAEA and Iran, he said, adding that China encourages the two sides to improve dialogue and cooperation to help settle Iran’s nuclear issue peacefully.
Liu added that China hopes all related parties will show more flexibility, allay each other’s concerns, and seek a proper resolution through dialogue.
Amano held rare talks with Iranian officials during his one-day visit to Iran on May 21, which was his first since he assumed the post on December 1, 2009.
In addition, representatives of Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog met in Vienna on May 14 and 15 to discuss Iran’s nuclear program.
Iranian and IAEA officials also met in Tehran from January 29 to 31 and February 21 to 22.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman also commented on the negotiations that Tehran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) held in Baghdad on May 23 and 24, saying that the six major powers presented a package of incentives to Iran to help settle the issue, while Iran also announced its readiness for further discussions of the issue of 20-percent enrichment of uranium.