Li Baodong, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks at an open Security Council meeting after the adoption of the new resolution on Iran sanctions. The resolution was adopted at the 15-nation Council with 12 votes in favor. Brazil and Turkey, the two non-permanent members of the Security Council, voted against the draft resolution while Lebanon, another non-permanent Council member, abstained.

"The new resolution not only reflects the concerns of the international community over the Iranian nuclear issue, but also expresses the aspiration of all parties to bring about an early and peaceful settlement of the issues through diplomatic negotiations," Li said. "China calls on all members of the international community to implement the resolution comprehensively and in good faith."

"China always maintains that the action taken by the Security Council should adhere to the following principles: First, it should contribute to the maintenance of the international non- permanent regime," Li said.

Iran, as the state party to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), "should strictly fulfill its obligations under the NPT," he said. "In the meantime, its right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy should be fully respected and safeguarded."

"Second, the Security Council action should be conducive to peace and stability in the Middle East, especially the gulf region, " he said, adding that such an action should not affect the normal life of the Iranian people and normal business exchanges between all other countries and Iran.

"Third, it should help promote the current momentum of world economic recovery," he said.

"The action taken by the Security Council should be appropriate, incremental, clearly targeted, and in line with the actual practice of Iran in the nuclear field, and it should reinforce the diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue."

"China has been earnestly and constructively engaged in the consultations on the draft resolution, and work vigorously to ensure that the draft resolution fully reflects the above principles," he said.

An agreement was reached on the draft resolution in the wake of rounds of hard negotiations by the five plus one powers, the five permanent members of the Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany.

"We are of the view that sanctions can never fundamentally resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, it is imperative to return to the track of dialogue and negotiations," he said. "Adoption of the new resolution does not mean that the door to diplomatic efforts is closed."

"The new resolution is aimed to bring Iran back to the negotiating table and activate a new round of diplomatic efforts," he said.

"Over the years, China has been committed to peacefully resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic negotiations and has made unremitting efforts in this regard," Li said. "China welcomes and highly values the tripartite agreement between Brazil, Turkey and Iran on nuclear fuel exchange for the Tehran research reactor."

"We hope parties concerned will make full use of the positive momentum created by the agreement, and spare no effort to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue and negotiations."

"China hopes that countries concerned will, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, strengthen contact and dialogue, foster mutual trust, dispel misgivings, address each other's concerns, and seek a solution acceptable to all parties to restart negotiations," he said.

"China will work along with all countries concerned to continue to make its own contribution to the peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic means," he said.