China urges Iran to be positive about nuclear offer

SHANGHAI, June 14: China urged Iran today to respond positively to a package of incentives and penalties aimed at persuading it to give up uranium enrichment.

''The EU3 have come up with a new package regarding the Iran nuclear issue. They have briefed Iran on it, and Iran is looking at it very seriously,'' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a Central Asian security group that has Iran as an observer.

''We hope that all sides will come up with a positive response, and will adopt a positive, pragmatic and flexible attitude so we can create conditions favourable for the resumption of negotiations,'' he added.

The proposal has been endorsed by the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- including China -- and Germany. But Iran has yet to give a definite response.

REUTERS