"Dialogue and cooperation is the only right way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue," Liu Weimin told reporters Friday.
He said that China was ready to work with parties concerned to seek an early resumption of talks between the P5+1 -- Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States plus Germany -- and Iran.
He said that Chinese Assistant foreign minister Ma Zhaoxu will visit Iran on February 12 and 13 to exchange views on the issue.
Liu said that the visit came at the invitation of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
The US, Israel and their allies accuse Iran of pursuing a military nuclear program and have used this allegation as a pretext to sway the UN Security Council (UNSC) to impose four rounds of sanctions on Iran.
As a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran maintains that it has the right to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
China and Russia, as two veto-wielding powers at the UNSC, have been calling for the resumption of talks over the Iranian nuclear issue, expressing opposition to further sanctions against Tehran.
Iran and the P5+1 held two rounds of multifaceted talks in Geneva in December 2010 and in the Turkish city of Istanbul last January. The two sides have agreed to hold yet another round of talks, probably in Turkey.
Tehran says it is ready to continue the talks based on common ground, adding, however, that it has no intention of backing down on its nuclear rights.
press tv/281
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman has underlined negotiations and cooperation as the only right way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.
News ID 181481
