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Hu: China, US share common goal on Iran
By Wu Jiao and Zhang Haizhou (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-14 07:43
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But Beijing still prefers diplomatic solutions to Teheran nuclear issue
WASHINGTON - China is open to further discussions with major Western powers on how to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, though Beijing still prefers a diplomatic solution to fresh sanctions, reports said.
 US President Barack Obama (center) leads a family picture with heads of delegations during the Nuclear Security Summit at the Washington Convention Center in Washington DC on Tuesday.[Agencies] |
Meeting United States President Barack Obama hours before the Nuclear Security Summit opened here late on Monday local time, President Hu Jintao said Beijing and Washington share a common goal on the issue.
"China is always committed to preserving international nuclear non-proliferation and the Middle East's peace and stability," Hu told Obama.
Clarifying the US stance, Obama said Washington also hopes to resolve the Iranian issue peacefully through diplomatic ways, according to China News Agency.
Beijing is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, each with the power to veto any proposed resolution. The five powers and Germany together make up the "P5+1" group steering international talks on the Iranian nuclear dispute.
At the UN last week, representatives of the six nations discussed a draft resolution that would sanction Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard.
Jeffrey Bader, the top White House official for Asian affairs, told reporters after the meeting between Hu and Obama that "the two presidents agreed the two delegations should work together on a sanctions resolution in New York".
"They are prepared to work with us," he said. "The Chinese very clearly share our concern about the Iranian nuclear program."
China and Russia are the only two members of the UN Security Council that have not backed sanctions against Iran, but Russia appears to be softening its stance.
Beijing has long insisted sanctions are no use in solving the issue and expected diplomatic efforts to take effect.
Twelve hours after the two presidents met, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing still prefers to resolve the issue through diplomacy.
"Sanctions and pressure cannot fundamentally resolve the issues," ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said.
"We believe that the Security Council's relevant actions should be conducive to easing the situation and conducive to promoting a fitting solution to the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiations," Jiang said.
"China supports a dual-track strategy and has always believed that dialogue and negotiations are the optimal channels for resolving the Iranian nuclear issue," she added.
"Dual-track" is diplomatic shorthand for offering Teheran economic and political incentives if it suspends its nuclear enrichment, and threats of sanctions if it refuses.
But China has backed previous rounds of UN sanctions against Iran in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Even if China backs fresh sanctions, Beijing's ties with Teheran won't be severely damaged, said Hua Liming, a former Chinese ambassador to Iran.
"Iran clearly knows China's situation and the structure of the P5+1 mechanism. Even if China supported (new sanctions), Sino-Iranian ties won't be seriously harmed," Hua said.
CHINA DAILY
