The Board of Governors of International Atomic Energy Agency held meeting today in Vienna, and considered the Iranian nuclear issue. At the meeting, Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Vienna, Ambassador H. E. Mr. Tang Guoqiang delivered a statement and elaborate China's postion on this issue.

Ambassador Tang said that it is the wish of the broad international community that the Iranian nuclear issue be resolved peacefully through diplomatic negotiations. We should continue our joint efforts to this end, and avoid the easy option of abandonment of such efforts. Should the Iranian nuclear issue be properly addressed, it will contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability in the Middle East, defend the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and ensure that countries enjoy the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy on the premises of the full implementation of the NPT obligations. It will also help strengthen the maintenance of the agency's authority. This is in the common interests of international community.

Ambassador pointed out that currently, the Iranian nuclear issue is faced with both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, Iran has made response to the solution package for this issue as committed on 22 August last. The parties concerned are continuing dialogue and contact with Iran, and efforts of diplomatic negotiation continue. On the other hand, the relevant parties are still concerned with how Iran will meet the requirement set by the resolution of the Board of Governors and Resolution 1696 of the UN Security Council. The Iranian nuclear programme still contains issues that need to be clarified.

Ambassador stressed that the priority for the time being is to maintain the dialogue and contacts among the concerned parties, to promote mutual understanding on each others' concerns and to clarify the ambiguities. At the same time, diplomatic wisdom and creative thinking should also be allowed to play their parts in seeking the solutions to the key issues that are acceptable to all parties, in order to bring about the early resumption of the negotiations for a long-term solution.

Ambassador indicated that China hopes that Iran will implement the relevant resolutions and decisions of the UN Security Council and the Board of the Agency, continue to cooperate fully with the Agency, clarify the outstanding problems, adopt a constructive approach, demonstrate flexibility on issues concerned by the international community and to establish the conditions for resuming the negotiations. At the same time, China also hopes that the other related parties will continue to keep calm and restraint, stick to the direction towards peaceful resolution, display flexibility and to make joint efforts to create the favourable atmosphere for the resumption of negotiations. China welcomes all the efforts made by the relevant parties for peaceful resolution through diplomatic means.

Ambassador said that China supports the agency to continue to play an important role in seeking resolutions of the Iranian nuclear issue. The Security Council, while addressing the Iranian nuclear issue, should aim at strengthening the authority of the Agency and be in favour of the efforts by the international community to promote negotiation.

Finally, Ambassador emphasized that China's position on the Iranian nuclear issue is consistent. We will continue our efforts to maintain regional peace and stability, to defend the international non-proliferation regime and to push forward the peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic negotiations.