Chinese vice FM to attend Iran nuclear talks

BEIJING - Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong will lead the Chinese delegation to the talks on the Iran nuclear issue that will start in Vienna Tuesday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Monday.

Iran and world powers, or the P5+1 group which consists of the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany, are set to hold the next round of talks in the Austrian capital to discuss a comprehensive nuclear agreement.

Hua Chunying said at the regular press briefing that the dialogue on the Iran Nuclear issue has entered a critical stage.

The upcoming talks are the first dialogue on the issue this year.

Achieving a positive result will help maintain good progress of dialogue and cooperation as well as safeguard regional peace and stability, Hua said.

In November, the P5+1 group and Iran reached an interim deal in Geneva and started implementing it on January 20, Hua said, pointing out that developments have advanced the issue onto a path of constraining Iran's nuclear program and easing sanctions on the country.

"China believes that dialogues and negotiations are the only path towards a solution of the Iran nuclear issue," Hua said.

She added that China hopes all sides make more diplomatic efforts and promote the negotiation process with flexibility and sincerity.

China has made tremendous efforts during the negotiation process and played a constructive role, Hua said. She also voiced China's hope of working with all sides to address the Iran nuclear issue through diplomatic means.