China more concerned about Iran, wary on sanctions

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi was speaking after talks with visiting British Foreign Secretary (minister) David Miliband, where one of the key issues on the table was Iran.

Yang's comments suggested he had given little ground on Western calls for Beijing to back proposed new sanctions over Tehran's disputed nuclear activities, which China could block as a veto-wielding permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.

"Regarding the Iran nuclear issue, I wish to point out that this issue is the subject of widespread attention in the international community," Yang told reporters.

"China has become more concerned about the current situation," he said, adding Beijing still sought a diplomatic solution.

Western powers say Iran wants the means to make nuclear weapons and has violated non-proliferation safeguards. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday the time had come for new sanctions.

Iran says its uranium enrichment activities are to make fuel for planned nuclear power plants.

China has resisted calls to tighten the economic screws on one of its major suppliers of oil, and Yang repeated Beijing's long-standing position that sanctions could not resolve the tensions. But he stopped short of outright opposition.

"I have said before that sanctions do not provide a fundamental solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, ultimately this issue has to be resolved through peaceful negotiations," he said.

"We will continue to make active efforts to bring about a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear issue."