China backs UN sanctions against Iran; says diplomacy should continue

BEIJING: China which backed UN resolution slapping sanctions against Iran for its nuclear programme said it chose to do so to maintain the validity of the international non-proliferation and its adoption does not mean the door for diplomatic efforts is closed.

"China's consideration in addressing the issue is to maintain the validity of the international nuclear non-proliferation mechanism and safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East," China's Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Qin Gang said on Thursday.

The adoption of the new UN resolution does not mean the door for diplomatic efforts is closed, said Qin, noting that the international community should take this opportunity to make more efforts through diplomatic channels for an early, long-term, comprehensive and proper solution to the issue.

"China is willing to continuously work with the involved nations and make its own contribution to addressing the issue in a peaceful and diplomatic manner," he said.

Qin made the remarks when commenting on a new UN resolution on the Iranian nuclear issue, which prohibits Iran from investing abroad in nuclear and enrichment operations and imposes binding new restrictions on Iran's import of conventional arms, state run Xinhua newsagency reported.

The resolution was the fourth set of UN sanctions against Iran since December 2006, with 12 votes in favour.

Brazil and Turkey, two non-permanent members of the Security Council, voted against the draft resolution while Lebanon, another non-permanent member, abstained.

China, one of the five permanent members of UNSC finally backed the US sponsored sanctions resolution after resisting the pressure for several months.

China which import 11 per cent of its oil requirements from Iran all along insisted on pursuing dual track policy and a negotiated settlement.

"China always holds it is the right way to address the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue, negotiation and other diplomatic means to seek a solution that satisfies the concerns of all parties", said Qin.

The new resolution and a joint statement of the foreign ministers of six countries expressed the concerns of the international community over the Iranian nuclear issue and their expectations to resolve the issue through diplomatic negotiation at an early date, Qin said.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany on Wednesday reiterated a call for "an early negotiated solution" to the Iranian nuclear issue.

The appeal was made in a joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of the six countries on Wednesday's adoption of the new UN sanction resolution, the newsagency report said.