China will send official to Iran to discuss nuclear issue

World

China will send official to Iran to discuss nuclear issue

Close

Officials have a further exchange of views with Iran over its nuclear programme.

10 February,2012 03:11 pm

Chinas Foreign Ministry said on Friday it will send a senior official to Iran for talkson the countrys nuclear programme, which has spurred tensions between Tehran and the West and led to new European Union and U.S. sanctions.Assistant Foregin Minister Ma Zhaoxu will head to Iran for talks on Sunday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said, reiterating Beijings emphasis on diplomacy over sanctions to resolve the issue.We have consistently advocated dialogue and cooperation as the only proper channel for resolving the Iran nuclear issue, Liu told reporters at a regular news briefing.(Ma will) have a further exchange of views with Iran over its nuclear programme, he added, without giving details. Tensions rose last month when EU leaders agreed to embargo Iranian oil by July and to freeze the assets of Irans central bank, joining the United States in a new round of measures aimed at discouraging Tehrans nuclear ambitions.China is Irans political ally and the top buyer of Iranian oil, taking around 20 percent of total exports.Iran insists its nuclear programme is purely for peaceful means.