China vows to work with US on Iran sanctions

---

Barack Obama

WASHINGTON, Apr 13 (Internet): President Obama secured a promise from President Hu Jintao of China Monday to join negotiations on a new package of sanctions against Iran, administration officials said, but Mr. Hu made no specific commitment to backing measures that the United States considers severe enough to force a change in direction in Iran's nuclear programme.
In a 90-minute conversation here before the opening of a summit meeting on nuclear security, Mr. Obama sought to win more cooperation from China by directly addressing one of the main issues behind Beijing's reluctance to confront Iran: its concern that Iran could retaliate by cutting off oil shipments to China. The Chinese import nearly 12 per cent of their oil from Iran.
Mr. Obama assured Mr. Hu that he was "sensitive to China's energy needs" and would work to make sure that Beijing had a steady supply of oil if Iran cut China off in retaliation for joining in severe sanctions.
American officials portrayed the Chinese response as the most encouraging sign yet that Beijing would support an international effort to ratchet up the pressure on Iran and as a sign of "international unity" on stopping Iran's nuclear programme before the country can develop a working nuclear weapon.
Meanwhile, AP from Washington adds: President Barack Obama optimistically opened a 47-nation nuclear summit Monday, boosted by Ukraine's announcement that it will give up its weapons-grade uranium. More sobering: The White House counterterror chief warned that al-Qaida is vigorously pursuing ingredients and expertise for a bomb.
Ukraine's decision dovetailed with Obama's goal of securing all vulnerable nuclear materials worldwide within four years - an objective that the White House hopes will be endorsed by all summit countries at a closing session Tuesday, even if the means to accomplish it are unclear. The fear is that terrorists or a nation other than the major nuclear powers could obtain crucial ingredients and inflict horrendous damage.