China says Iran nuclear talks 'candid, constructive'

BEIJING - A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Wednesday the Iran nuclear talks in Kazakhstan were being conducted in a "candid and constructive" manner.

"As the Iranian nuclear issue is complicated and sensitive, it is not possible to comprehensively address it through one or two talks," Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing.

Noting the participants in the talks were "seriously discussing" a solution to issues in Iran, Hua said Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu attended the gathering, and met with Ali Baqeri, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, on the sidelines of the talks.

China expects all parties to "seize opportunities, further showcase flexibility and sincerity, accommodate each other's concerns, and launch substantive talks soon", so as to help secure progress at an early date, the spokeswoman said.

Representatives of Iran, the European Union, and the UN Security Council's five permanent members -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China -- plus Germany, a group known as the P5+1, on Tuesday began a new round of talks concerning Iran's disputed nuclear program in Almaty, the biggest city in Kazakhstan.