China urged Iran and the United States back to the negotiating table on Wednesday, pushing for a diplomatic path out of the conflict.
Speaking at a regular press conference in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China supported resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means.
“China hopes that Iran and the United States will remain committed to a peaceful path, return to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, and resume dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible,” Guo told reporters.
He said China had worked to stop the fighting and promote peace since the conflict broke out, and was ready to continue efforts to restore peace and stability in the Middle East and Gulf region.
Turning to Russia, Guo talked up ties between Beijing and Moscow ahead of the 77th anniversary of diplomatic relations, saying the relationship had weathered ‘trials and challenges’ and become a model for what he called a new type of international relations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met twice this year, in Beijing in May and Bishkek in August.
“China and Russia will uphold the original aspirations of establishing diplomatic relations, deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation, take promoting the development and revitalisation of their respective countries as an important mission, and take reforming and improving global governance as a major power responsibility,” Guo added.
On Japan, Guo hit back at calls to debate nuclear weapons and nuclear-powered submarines, pointing to Tokyo’s obligations as a non-nuclear-weapon state under the NPT: “There is no room for negotiation.”
“The outrageous remarks made by a serving Japanese defence official… constitutes a serious provocation against and a blatant violation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the post-World War II international order,” Guo said.
The row comes as Tokyo reviews its key security documents, with Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi pushing for nuclear policy and nuclear-powered submarines to be debated ‘without taboos’.
China has also tightened controls on dual-use exports to Japan, including items destined for military users or uses that could enhance Japan’s military capabilities.
Source: Viory
