Mr. Chairman,

Since the Iranian nuclear issue appeared, the Chinese side has maintained that parties concerned solve the issue constructively within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through dialogue, which is of great importance for strengthening the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and preserving the role of the Agency. The Agency has up to now adopted three resolutions on the Iranian nuclear issue. These resolutions have received wide support from Member States and provided framework and basis for a peaceful solution.

China notes that last December Iran signed the additional protocol and undertook to act accordingly even before its entry into effect. Early this year, Iran further announced that it would expand the scope of suspension on uranium-enrichment and reprocessing activities and reiterated the peaceful purposes of its nuclear activities. With active cooperation of the Iranian side, the Agency's inspections in Iran have made positive progress. China welcomes these positive developments. We have also noted that the report of the Director General last February points to a number of issues that require further clarification and that the March Meeting of IAEA Board of Governors has adopted a resolution in this regard.

Mr. Chairman,

The Chinese side supports the Director General and the secretariat of the Agency in taking further necessary actions according to the relevant resolutions. China maintains that Iran should cooperate fully with the IAEA, make its nuclear activities fully transparent to the Agency, ratify the additional protocol and clarify outstanding issues as soon as possible so as to create conditions for a complete conclusion to the issue. At the same time, we maintain that, as a state party to the NPT, Iran's right to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy should be respected.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.