China crucial for any plan

BEIJING - As a veto-holding permanent member of the Security Council, China's position on Iran's secret nuclear facility will be crucial.

"China wants to see a diplomatic solution rather than hurrying to sanctions," said Professor Shi Yinhong of Renmin University in Beijing. "It is willing to give selective co-operation to Europe and the US. It is conservative."

He thought China might back "very limited" sanctions. "Iran is [important]: we have diplomatic interests, but also energy and trade links. If China is too harsh, it will not be favourable to its ... influence in the Middle East."

China is the world's second-largest consumer of crude oil and Iran has the world's second largest reserves; Iranian oil made up more than a 10th of China's crude imports last year. This year, the two countries announced a US$3.2 billion ($4.48 billion) three-year natural gas deal, and Iran's Press TV reported that trade volume between the countries leapt from US$400 million in 1994 to US$29 billion last year.

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