VIENNA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian nuclear
issue should be resolved peacefully through diplomatic negotiations, a Chinese
representative said here on Wednesday.
It was the wish of the international community that
the Iranian nuclear issue be resolved this way, Chinese Permanent Representative
to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Vienna Tang
Guoqiang told the meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA).
"We should continue our joint efforts to this end,
and avoid the easy option of abandonment of such efforts," Tang said.
He said that should the Iranian nuclear issue be
properly addressed, it would contribute to the maintenance of peace and
stability in the Middle East, defend the international nuclear non-proliferation
regime, and ensure the right of some countries to peaceful use of nuclear energy
on the premise of the full implementation of the NPT obligations.
It would also help strengthen the agency's authority,
he said.
He said the Iranian nuclear issue faced both
opportunities and challenges.
On one hand, Iran had responded to the incentives
package aimed at resolving the issue and diplomatic negotiation efforts were
continuing.
On the other hand, the relevant parties remain
concerned about how Iran would meet the requirement of the resolution of the
Board of Governors and Resolution 1696 of the UN Security Council.
The Iranian nuclear programme still contained issues
that needed to be clarified, he said.
Tang said the priority for the time being was to
maintain dialogue and contact among the concerned parties, promote mutual
understanding of each other's concerns and clarify ambiguities.
Meanwhile, diplomatic wisdom and creative thinking
should also be allowed to play their parts in seeking solutions to the issue.
The Chinese representative indicated that China hoped
Iran would implement the relevant resolutions and decisions of the U.N. Security
Council and the Board of the Agency, continue to cooperate fully with the
Agency, clarify the outstanding problems, adopt a constructive approach,
demonstrate flexibility on issues of concern from the international community
and establish the conditions for resuming the negotiations.
Other related parties, Tang said, should continue to
keep calm and exercise restraint, stick to the direction of peaceful resolution,
display flexibility and make joint efforts to create a favourable atmosphere for
the resumption of negotiations.
China welcomed all efforts made by the relevant
parties for a peaceful resolution through diplomatic means, he said.
Tang said China supported the IAEA to continue
playing an important role in seeking a resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue.
The Security Council should aim at strengthening the
authority of the Agency and be in favour of the efforts by the international
community to promote negotiation, he said.
Tang reiterated that China's position on the Iranian
nuclear issue was consistent. Enditem
