China advocates negotiated settlement of regional nuclear issues -- china.org.cn

The Board of Governors Meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Wednesday discussed the topic of the denuclearization process on the Korean Peninsula as well as the Iranian nuclear issue. China called for the solution of regional nuclear issues through consultation and dialogue.

Hu Xiaodi, permanent representative of China to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Vienna, stressed that "the nuclear issue in the Korean Peninsula could only be resolved peacefully through consultation and dialogues."

He pointed out that "the six-party talks is a practical and feasible means" to solve the issue and urged all parties to "continue to maintain and make good use of this effective platform."

Hu stressed that the Iran nuclear issue is related to the effectiveness of international nuclear non-proliferation regime, the rights of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) State Parties to peaceful use of nuclear energy, as well as regional peace and stability.

The Chinese government maintains that "it serves the interest of all parties to find a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear issue through dialog and negotiation," he said.

As Iran has said that it would put forward new package for negotiation, and the six-parties also reaffirmed the determination to resolve the issue through negotiation, "There still exists an opportunity for a negotiated settlement to the Iranian nuclear issue," he said.

China hopes that "all interested parties should make use of every positive factor, set up diplomatic efforts to achieve resumption of negotiations as soon as possible and find a proper and negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue," said Hu.

He stressed that China has always been committed to safeguarding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and maintaining regional peace and stability, and that it will make unremitting efforts to "promote a proper and negotiated settlement" to the nuclear issues in the Korean Peninsula and Iran.

(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2009)