China welcomes Iran nuclear inspection deal

BEIJING - China on Tuesday welcomed the latest deal reached between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to enable the UN nuclear watchdog to access more Iranian nuclear facilities for inspection.

"The Chinese side always believes that dialogue and cooperation are the approach to appropriately addressing the Iranian nuclear issue," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a daily news briefing.

Under the deal signed in Tehran on Monday, Iran will allow the UN nuclear watchdog's inspectors to visit Arak heavy water plant and Gachin yellow cake mine.

"There has now appeared a new, important opportunity for dialogue on the Iranian nuclear issue," said Qin. "The Chinese side welcomes cooperation between Iran and the IAEA."

China believes that the deal will help to create favorable conditions for resolving the Iranian nuclear issue in a comprehensive, enduring and appropriate way, according to the spokesman.