China hopes Iran to respond positively to the six-power proposal aimed at resolving its disputed nuclear issue peacefully, a senior Chinese diplomat said in Vienna on Thursday.

 

"We hope to see full cooperation of Iran with the Agency (IAEA) to clarify unresolved problems at an early date," said Tang Guoqiang, the Chinese Ambassador to the Vienna Office of the United Nations, at the meeting of the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

 

China hopes Iran can "adopt a constructive attitude" and create favorable conditions for the restoration of talks, he said.

 

Meanwhile, Tang stressed that Iran should have the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, but should also comply with corresponding obligations.

 

China appreciates the European powers' efforts to put forward the new package of incentives, which were presented to Iran by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana last week in exchange for Iran's suspension of uranium enrichment, Tang said.

 

China hopes the proposal "can serve as a basis for all sides to rapidly restore negotiations and provide conditions for resolving differences through negotiations," he said.

 

Tang also noted that the United States has recently expressed the desire to join negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue.

 

That has added "favorable elements" to the negotiations, through which all parties should continue their efforts to solve the dispute, he said.

 

Last week, Solana presented a package of incentives agreed by five UN Security Council permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- and Germany.

 

Details of the proposal remain unknown. But diplomats said it includes a light-water nuclear reactor and a foreign supply of atomic fuel for Iran, as well as an offer to suspend sanctions against Iran in the Security Council.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2006)