China to maintain coordination on Iran: FM

BEIJING - China will continue to maintain communication and coordination on Iranian nuclear tensions with the United States and other involved parties, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said at a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday.

Yang said China opposes any Middle-East country including Iran developing nuclear weapons and believes Iranian nuclear tensions should be resolved through peaceful means of diplomatic negotiation.

"China believes any dialogue between Iran and the 5+1 group, which comprises five UN Security Council members plus Germany, will play a positive role. All parties should remain committed to negotiation with a sober state, seriously consider suggestions from involved parties, give more attention to positive ideas in the suggestions and coordinate on them," he said.

China participates in the dialogue with earnest attitude and advocates a sober and objective judgment of the situation, according to the foreign minister.

He said, "China strictly abides by the resolutions of the UN Security Council and opposes unilateral sanctions. China will not accept the decision of unilateral sanctions if other countries are also punished."

"We hope to maintain the momentum of communication between China and the United States despite differences between the two countries on Iranian nuclear tensions. China will make unremitting efforts to the peaceful resolution of the issue," Yang said.