Chinese foreign minister Li Zhaoxing Thursday called for the continuation of negotiations to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.

At a meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Gholamali Khoshroo, Li said the most crucial thing at present is to maintain the dialogue and consultation process to resolve the nuclear issue. He reiterated the principled stance of the Chinese side in this regard.

Li expressed hope that parties concerned would be patient and continue constructive co-operation, to achieve an early settlement of Iran's nuclear issue within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Khoshroo gave Li an account of Iran's stance on the comprehensive nuclear proposal presented by Britain, France and Germany.

In the proposal, the three countries demanded Teheran permanently halt uranium enrichment activities it suspended last November in exchange for nuclear fuel supplied by other countries.

Iran resumed activities at the Isfahan uranium conversion plant on Monday. The country on Wednesday broke all UN seals at the plant and made the facility fully operational.

Khoshroo underscored that Iran hopes to reserve the right of peaceful use of nuclear energy. Iran is willing to keep co-operating with the IAEA and continue efforts to seek a final solution to the nuclear issue through negotiations, he said.

Meanwhile, a draft resolution submitted to the IAEA says Iran must resume full suspension of all nuclear fuel related activities and asks the agency to verify Teheran's compliance.

The draft, drawn up by Britain, Germany and France, requests IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei "to provide a comprehensive report on the implementation of Iran's NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) Safeguards Agreement and this resolution by September 3, 2005."

The text did not say Iran should be referred to the UN Security Council, which has the power to impose sanctions. The EU's three biggest powers are sponsoring the resolution, which were to be voted on later Thursday (local time) at an emergency session of the IAEA board of governors.

Iran rejected the draft resolution.

The country voluntarily suspended all sensitive atomic work in November 2004 after reaching a deal with the EU trio called the Paris Agreement, under which Teheran froze work related to atomic fuel production while negotiating a permanent deal with the EU.

Source: China Daily