Chinese assistant FM due in Iran

12 June 2008

Beijing-China's Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Jieyi is to visit Iran in the near future, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang said here Thursday.

He told reporters that Liu would accompany the EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in his two-day visit to Tehran, scheduled to take place on Saturday.

Solana will deliver a package proposed by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- China, Russia, France, Britain and the US -- plus Germany (Group 5+1) to Iranian officials.

A message by foreign ministers of the six countries would be also submitted to their Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki, the spokesman added.

He expressed hope the sides would increase their diplomatic efforts to find a long-lasting solution to Iran's peaceful nuclear case.

Qin urged all sides to show more flexibility over Iran's nuclear case and strive to resume negotiations on the issue.