China will continue to work toward a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear dispute through diplomatic dialogue, a senior official has said.

 

Speaking at a meeting of senior officials from France, Germany, the UK, the US, Russia and China in London on Wednesday, Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai said that China has supported the talks between the EU and Iran.

 

Senior officials of the six countries met to discuss Iran's nuclear issues, as there is no sign of the country stopping its uranium enrichment work.

 

There were also talks concerning a third round of sanctions against Iran.

 

However, in his speech Cui urged all parties to act to create the conditions and atmosphere for renegotiation.

 

Earlier on Tuesday, Zhang Yan, director of the Foreign Ministry's Department of Arms Control and Disarmament, reiterated China's standpoint on nuclear non-proliferation.

 

As head of the Chinese delegation at the General Debate of the First Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, Zhang said China has always pursued a peaceful resolution of the Korean Peninsula and Iranian nuclear issues through dialogue and consultation.

 

China will cooperate with all parties concerned to push forward the settlement of these regional nuclear issues, he said.

 

Meanwhile, Zhang said China unconditionally undertakes not to be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time and in any circumstances, and not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states and nuclear-weapon-free zones.

 

China honors its commitment to the moratorium on nuclear tests and supports the initiative of the non-nuclear-weapon states to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones. China opposes and will not take part in any kind of nuclear arms race, Zhang said.

 

During his speech, Zhang made three proposals aimed at preventing nuclear proliferation. First, the international community should follow the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and other universally recognized norms of international law.

 

Second, regional and international non-proliferation issues should be addressed through dialogue and negotiation.

 

Third, countries should move with the times and seek a fair, reasonable and effective way to enhance the nuclear non-proliferation regime through broad consultation.

 

Zhang said the "13 Practical Steps" on non-proliferation and disarmament outlined at the 2000 NPT Review Conference provide important guidelines on promoting the nuclear disarmament process. The international community should take full consideration of the current situation and effectively and faithfully implement these steps.

 

He said the two countries (the US and Russia) with the largest nuclear arsenals bear special responsibility and should take the lead in nuclear disarmament, and they should implement the agreement they have concluded in a verifiable and irreversible manner.

 

The two-week First Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2010 NPT Review Conference opened in Geneva on Monday.

 

(China Daily May 4, 2007)