China stressed in Vienna Wednesday that Iran's nuclear issue should be settled through dialogue and consultations.

Speaking after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted a resolution over nuclear activities of Iran, Zhang Yan, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, said China supports further inspections in Iran by the IAEA within its authorization, and encourages Iran to clarify its nuclear activities by cooperating with the IAEA.

Zhang also said the justifiable right of the involved country to peacefully use nuclear power should be maintained when seeking solutions within the framework of the IAEA.

Zhang expressed pleasure in his speech with the resolution by the IAEA, saying that the resolution, which was finally adopted after wide and constructive consultations, is commonly acceptable to concerning parties.

It proved that through equal dialogue and sincere cooperation, a satisfactory solution to Iran's nuclear issue could be reached, Zhang pointed out.

Zhang expressed the hope that the adoption of the resolution would be conducive to the continuation of dialogue, consultations and cooperation between the involved parties, and would enable a final solution to Iran's nuclear issue.

The IAEA adopted the resolution by consensus on Wednesday, censuring Iran for its covert nuclear activities in the past 18 years. However, it did not make the decision to report Iran to the United Nations Security Council for possible sanctions.

The resolution was regarded as a compromise between the United States, which urged the IAEA to condemn Iran for its covert nuclear activities, and Britain, France and Germany, who demanded that Iran be rewarded for its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog since October.

(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2003)