China applauds opportunity on Iranian nuclear issue

BEIJING -- China called all parties on Thursday to seize the opportunities that have emerged after the latest round of talks on the Iranian nuclear issue.

"China has always maintained that a solution based on dialogue and negotiation is in the interests of all parties. The new round of talks on Iran has created fresh opportunities in this regard," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily news briefing.

"We hope all parties can take a flexible, pragmatic attitude to accommodate each other's concerns and have substantive negotiations in order to achieve progress at an early date," Hua said.

European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Wednesday that after two days of talks between the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany, and Iran, they for the first time agreed on a joint statement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad-Zarif presented an outline of a plan as a proposed basis for negotiation, which is being carefully considered by the P5+1 delegates as an important contribution.

Ashton also said that an agreement to continue nuclear talks on Nov 7-8. in Geneva was reached.

China is committed to the talks and will continue to be active in the dialogue between the six nations and Iran, Hua said.

She reiterated China will play a constructive role in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic and peaceful means.