China says again dialogue key to solve Iran standoff

BEIJING, Sep 7 (Reuters) China again said today that it hoped Iran's nuclear standoff with the West can be resolved through dialogue.

''China advocates this issue to be resolved through negotiation and dialogue in a peaceful way and this position remains unchanged,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular news conference.

Senior diplomats from six worlds powers, including China, are to meet in Berlin later today to discuss what to do with Iran after it ignored a UN Security Council deadline to halt its nuclear enrichment programme.

Diplomats from several countries have said the United States hopes to use the meeting to persuade Russia and China, which both wield veto power at the Security Council, that it was time to increase pressure on Iran by moving towards sanctions.

Reuters DKA GC1243