VIENNA, Feb. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Room still exists for resolving the Iranian nuclear dispute within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Chief of the Chinese Delegation Wu Hailong said here Saturday.

    Wu made the remarks after China voted for the resolution, submitted by France, Germany and Britain, which was recently adopted by IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna.

    "At present, there is, we believe, still room for resolving the Iranian nuclear issue within the framework of the IAEA," Wu said.

    The international atomic watchdog had earlier decided to report the Iranian nuclear issue to the U.N. Security Council.

    "The relevant provisions pertaining to reporting to the UN Security Council contained in the just-adopted Resolution, as we understand it, shall not be construed as an exercise based on Article 12C or Article 3B of the Statute of the Agency," he added.

    "On the contrary," Wu said, "the very purpose underlined of this exercise is to enable the Agency to better address the Iranian nuclear issue."

    "It is with this understanding that the Chinese delegation voted for the above draft resolution," he pointed out.

    China has all along stood for an early and proper resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue "through negotiation and by diplomatic means," and it will continue to do so in the future, Wu said while addressing the extraordinary meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors.

    China hopes the result of this special session will facilitate attainment of the above objective and help to mitigate current difficulties in the negotiation process, he added.

    Wu noted that the relevant parties "should spare no diplomatic efforts by seizing any possible opportunity to resolve the issue."

    "In this context, the Chinese side calls on all relevant parties to exercise restraint and patience at this very moment and refrain from taking any action that might further complicate or deteriorate the situation," he said.

    They should strive to bring about "an early and proper resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue through continued negotiation," Wu added.

    "This, we believe, represents the most sensible and most ideal formula in the best interests of all parties," he noted.

    Earlier on Saturday, the extraordinary meeting of IAEA's 35-member Board of Governors voted with 27 in favor, 3 against and 5 in abstention to adopt a resolution, which requested the IAEA chief to report the Iranian nuclear issue to the U.N. Security Council. Enditem