China urges Iran dialogue before president visits

BEIJING, June 13 (Reuters) China urged fresh dialogue to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme today and said it saw hope in a big-power offer to Tehran a day before President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is due to arrive in Shanghai.

Pressure has been growing on Iran to reply to the package of incentives and penalties offered by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, which include China, along with Germany, aimed at persuading it to give up uranium enrichment.

The West believes such research is being used to develop nuclear weapons.

''China appreciates Iran's willingness to give serious thinking to the plan,'' Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular news conference. ''We think there are now new opportunities for a peaceful solution.'' She did not say what message Chinese President Hu Jintao might have for Ahmadinejad when the two meet on the sidelines of this week's summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a regional security grouping at which Iran has observer status.

If Iran sticks to its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment, which it says is for electricity generation, Western powers could push for sanctions at the Security Council.

China has traditionally opposed such action and has continually urged talks.

''Only when we resume dialogue can we resolve differences,'' Jiang said. ''We do not wish to see new disturbances in the Middle East as a result of this issue.'' REUTERS SHB RS1447