China denies selling sensitive nuke technology

Beijing, May 23: China, a key player in trying to resolve Iran's nuclear stand-off with the West, never sells sensitive nuclear technology, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said today.

''Since China signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1992 we have always adhered to our international obligations and promises,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a news conference.

In April, Iran announced it had enriched uranium to a level used in nuclear power plants, but several diplomats said last week the country had obtained high-quality processed uranium from China in 1991, a year before Beijing signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Liu did not directly address whether China might have sold such technology the year before, but said it ''cannot accept those accusations by certain countries''.

''China never sells sensitive uranium enrichment or nuclear processing equipment or technologies,'' Liu said.

Iran is at the centre of an international dispute over its nuclear programmes, which the West believes are aimed at making weapons, not producing power as Tehran insists.

China has advocated diplomacy to resolve the nuclear stand-off with Iran and North Korea and opposes stronger measures such as sanctions.

Liu said China had cooperated with Iran in the past on the peaceful use of nuclear power, but that all such cooperation had been reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency and was permitted under the conditions of the NPT.

REUTERS

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