EU leader to push Iran sanctions on China trip
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
LUXEMBOURG, Apr 26 (AFP): European Union (EU) foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton will make her first trip to China this week, hoping to persuade Beijing not to block new UN sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme, a diplomat said Monday.
Ashton will arrive in the Chinese capital Thursday from Tokyo, as she makes her first tour of the Asian giants since assuming her new office in December.
During visits to Beijing and then Shanghai, she will hold talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Yan Jiechi among others.
"Iran is at the top of the agenda," the European diplomat said, as Western nations' attempts to put more pressure on Tehran to give up its nuclear programme struggle to translate into fresh UN sanctions.
The United States, Europe and others fear Tehran is seeking the technology to build nuclear weapons, while the authorities in Iran insist that their nuclear programme is purely for civil energy use.
China, a veto-wielding permanent UN Security Council member, is seen as key to the process by Europe.
Ashton, who built up relations with Beijing during her brief spell as EU trade commissioner, hopes the Chinese can be persuaded not to veto a move to further sanctions, even if they are not prepared to support it.
"The Chinese haven't supported the idea of fresh sanctions but they have allowed the process to move forward," the diplomat said.
"Probably the best we can hope for is an abstention," he said.
Ashton will arrive in the Chinese capital Thursday from Tokyo, as she makes her first tour of the Asian giants since assuming her new office in December.
During visits to Beijing and then Shanghai, she will hold talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Yan Jiechi among others.
"Iran is at the top of the agenda," the European diplomat said, as Western nations' attempts to put more pressure on Tehran to give up its nuclear programme struggle to translate into fresh UN sanctions.
The United States, Europe and others fear Tehran is seeking the technology to build nuclear weapons, while the authorities in Iran insist that their nuclear programme is purely for civil energy use.
China, a veto-wielding permanent UN Security Council member, is seen as key to the process by Europe.
Ashton, who built up relations with Beijing during her brief spell as EU trade commissioner, hopes the Chinese can be persuaded not to veto a move to further sanctions, even if they are not prepared to support it.
"The Chinese haven't supported the idea of fresh sanctions but they have allowed the process to move forward," the diplomat said.
"Probably the best we can hope for is an abstention," he said.