Chinese FM urges patience in Iran nuclear talks

It’s good for the world if such big country as China will have an independent opinion over foreign policies relatively apart from other UN’s security members.

China signalled its intent to pursue a more assertive foreign policy, saying “a fifth of mankind” had a right to be heard, and stating its opposition to the west on a range of issues.

The country’s foreign minister, Yang Jiechi, threatened retaliation for American arms sales to Taiwan, and made it clear that China was prepared to stand alone among the permanent members of the UN security council in opposing sanctions against Iran.

He insisted Iran had not closed the door on negotiations over the export of its uranium, and called for patience and “a more flexible, pragmatic and proactive policy” towards talks with Iran.

Speaking at a global security conference in Munich, Yang also rejected western criticism on internet freedoms and China’s role at the Copenhagen global warming summit in December

China’s foreign minister Yang Jiechi during a security policy conference in Munich in 2010. Photograph: Michaela Rehle/Reuters