By Stephen Asante
GNA Special Correspondent, Beijing, China
Beijing, March 16, GNA – The authorities in China and Russia have welcomed the Iranian Government’s reiteration of its nuclear programme as being exclusively undertaken for peaceful purposes.
The officials say they also support Iran’s policy to continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and its commitment to full compliance with the obligations under the Treaty on Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
This was in a statement jointly issued by the three countries – China, Russia and Iran – following a meeting in Beijing, China.
The meeting was chaired by China’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Ma Zhaoxu, and had in attendance Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich, as well as Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi.
The statement, issued by China’s Foreign Ministry, copies of which were made available to journalists, said the participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the latest state of play regarding the nuclear issue, as well as sanctions lifting.
“The three countries reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option in this regard,” it added.
There was the need to fully respect Iran’s right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a State Party to the NPT, the statement noted.
The three countries stressed the necessity for all states to refrain from any action that undermined the technical, objective and impartial work of the IAEA.
Iran and Russia commended China for its constructive role, and hosting the Beijing meeting, the statement said, adding that the three countries agreed to continue their close consultation and cooperation in the future.
It said participants of the meeting also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, and agreed to maintain and strengthen coordination in international organisations and multilateral arrangements.
The meeting comes in the wake of China’s recent Third Session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), where the Asian giant reaffirmed its commitment to promoting a stable, peaceful and orderly multipolar world.
In recent times, China has sought to become more involved in Middle Eastern affairs, and a year ago, hosted talks leading to the full restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
The Government says it remains committed to the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the nuclear deal between Iran and six major countries – the United States (US), Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany – as “the basis for new consensus.”
GNA
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