China urges cooperation in Iran nuclear talks

China’s State Councilor has hailed the implementation of the nuclear deal sealed between Iran and the six world powers last year, calling for collective work by all sides toward settling the dispute over Iran’s nuclear energy program.

Yang Jiechi made the remarks during a meeting with the US Secretary of State John Kerry in Beijing on Friday, where the two senior officials discussed bilateral, regional and international issues.

Commenting on the Syrian crisis, he reaffirmed Beijing’s stance on resolving the conflict through political approaches, urging the international community to help end the violence by persuading all parties involved through negotiations.

The unrest in Syria erupted about three years ago and many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.

Kerry, for his part, hailed China’s constructive role in settling international issues and called for stronger US-China relationship.

Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – Russia, China, France, Britain and the United States – plus Germany signed an interim nuclear deal in Geneva, Switzerland, last November. The deal came into force on January 20 and the two sides are set to hold the next round of talks in Vienna on February 18.

Under the deal, Iran agreed to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities as a confidence-building measure, and the world powers undertook to provide Iran with some sanctions relief.