China puts forward 5-point proposal on Iranian nuclear issue

ISTANBUL

China on Friday put forward a five-point proposal on the Iranian nuclear issue, as officials from China, Iran, and Russia gathered in Beijing for a meeting.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi talked about Beijing’s proposal as he met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Gharib Abadi, according to a statement released by China’s government website.

The first point of the proposal focused on “peaceful settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means,” opposing the use of force and sanctions.

“All parties should uphold the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, actively create conditions for resuming dialogue and negotiation,” the statement said.

The second point emphasized the importance of the “peaceful use” of nuclear power, noting that Tehran “should continue to abide by its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons.”

“All parties should fully respect Iran's right to peaceful use of nuclear energy as a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,” the statement said.

The third point underscored reaching an agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue, saying that Beijing “hopes that all parties will meet each other halfway and resume dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible.”

It also said that Washington should demonstrate political sincerity and reengage in talks at once.

The fourth point opposed intervention from the UN Security Council, saying that “hasty intervention by the Security Council will not help the parties build trust and bridge differences.”

The final point addressed the “principle of step-by-step equality and seek consensus through consultation,” saying that “only by upholding the spirit of mutual respect can we find the greatest common denominator.”