China has joined international condemnation of an Israeli plan to build 1,600 homes on occupied Palestinian land in an East Jerusalem (al-Quds) settlement calling for a halt to the expansion scheme.

“We request the Israeli side to stop the establishment of new Jewish settlements and make concerted efforts and concrete actions to contribute to the resumption of peace talks,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang said on Thursday.

“This action will damage the basis for the negotiations between the two sides and undermine international mediation efforts,” Gang added.

Tel Aviv regime’s green light to the construction of 1,600 homes in Ramat Shlomo neighborhood in al-Quds has drawn severe criticism internationally.

US optimism for kick-starting the Middle East ‘peace’ process has suffered a humiliating setback as President Obama’s Middle East envoy George Mitchell is trying to revive an indirect dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis after a year of acrimony.

Previous efforts at direct talks have fallen short since Tel Aviv declines to meet the Palestinians’ crucial demand — a comprehensive freeze on all settlement activities in the West Bank.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang says Beijing insists that diplomacy is the only way to end the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program.

“We have said all along that the Iranian nuclear issue has to be peacefully resolved by diplomatic means through dialogue and negotiations,” AFP quoted Qin as saying on Tuesday.

“At present, there is still space for diplomatic efforts, dialogue, and consultation,” he added.

The comments came ahead of a visit by British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, due in China on Sunday for a four-day trip, during which Iran’s nuclear program is expected to be one of the main topics to be discussed.

China has repeatedly called for a diplomatic solution to the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.

Beijing blames the soured Sino-US relations on Washington policies in the region, insisting better ties are possible should the US respect China’s interest.

“The responsibility for the difficulties in China-US relations does not lie with China,” Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Sunday on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the National People’s Congress.

Washington’s planned sale of a $6.4-billion weapons package to Taiwan, the self-governing island which China claims to be part of the mainland, has contributed to the Chinese displeasure with the US.

“The United States should take seriously China’s position and respect China’s core interests,” Yang noted. The move pushed China to suspend military exchanges with those US firms involved in the arms deal, threatening to retaliate against them.

Another US move that has prompted strong Chinese reaction has been the meeting between US President Barack Obama and the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama.

China says the Dalai Lama seeks independence for the Himalayan region and thus considers persistent efforts by the US to open ties with the separatist leader as interfering with issues of Chinese national interest.

However, referring to a recent visit by two high-level US officials, Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and Senior White House Asia adviser Jeffrey Bader, Yang said “we don’t think diplomatic efforts have been exhausted.”

The head of China’s Central Bank has declared that the country is ready to end pegging its currency in dollars, but said that any changes would be gradual.

Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People’s Bank of China, described the decision as a “temporary” response to the global financial crisis, but gave no timescale for any change in policy.

“If we are to exit from irregular policies and return to ordinary economic policies, we must be extremely prudent about our choice of timing,” Zhou said. “This also includes the [yuan] exchange rate policy.”

His comments come as the US administration accuses China of artificially keeping the value of the country’s yuan low.

“China and its currency policies are impeding the rebalancing [of the global economy] that’s necessary,” President Obama had told Bloomberg last month.

“My goal over the course of the next year is for China to recognize that it is also in their interest to allow their currency to appreciate because, frankly, they have got a potentially overheating economy,” Obama said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has strongly signaled his country’s unwillingness to back US-desired sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

Speaking at a news conference held on Sunday, Yang said that sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program were unlikely to work.

He explained that pressure and embargoes would not lead to a “fundamental” resolution of the dispute between Iran and the West.

The foreign minister pointed that, instead, Beijing advocated negotiation and intensified diplomatic efforts as a means of finding a peaceful solution to the issue.

The foreign minister’s remarks came just days after two senior US diplomats visited the Chinese capital to try to persuade Beijing to accept new sanctions against Tehran.

Last week, US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and the National Security Council’s Senior Director for Asian Affairs Jeffrey Bader were in Beijing discussing with Chinese officials.

Their visit was the first trip made by any senior US official to China in recent months, as a wave of disputes has erupted between the two governments over internet issues, trade, and US arms sales to Taiwan.

Following unsuccessful anti-Iran campaign in Latin America and the Middle East, the US is now sending emissaries to China to win Beijing’s support in pushing through a UN Security Council resolution for international sanctions against Iran.

Two top US diplomats arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a visit that will, among other things, focus on persuading China to cooperate in imposing embargoes against Iran.

Washington hopes that the visit to China by US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and the National Security Council’s Senior Director for Asian Affairs Jeffrey Bader will also help in easing trade tensions with the Asian power.

Steinberg will be the most senior US diplomat to visit Beijing since a wave of disputes erupted between the two governments in recent months over Internet issues, trade, and US arms sales to Taiwan.

“We’ve gone through a bit of a bumpy path here, and I think there’s an interest both within the United States and China to get back to business as usual as quickly as possible,” US State Department spokesman told reporters in Washington on Monday.

Philip Crowley also asserted that Iran would be on the agenda of the talks between US officials and their counterparts in Beijing.

China, as well, seems interested in lowering the temperature of friction with the United States, a key trade partner.

Beijing has not yet acted on its threat to sanction US companies involved in the Taiwan arms sales. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has said recently that he wants to ease trade tension with the United States.

The United States and other Western powers want China’s backing for a proposed UN resolution slapping new sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear program.

Analysts and officials say that China will resist any proposed sanctions that would threaten the flow of oil to China and Beijing’s investments in Iran, but most believe that the veto-wielding member of the Security Council will accept a rather narrowly-cast resolution that has a more symbolic than practical impact.

China, which has large-scale trade and investment ties with Iran, has so far resisted US pressure over the issue, stressing that the matter must be resolved diplomatically.

China could use its veto power as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to block any proposed resolution.

Iran has repeatedly objected to what it describes as the unfair privileges that a few states have at the UN Security Council that allows some powerful countries to act above the law.

The US and its allies accuse Tehran of following a military agenda under its civilian nuclear program, although the UN nuclear watchdog inspectors stationed in Iran have not been able to substantiate such claims.

Under pressure from Washington, the UN Security Council has already passed a number of resolutions against Iran with the aim of restricting its nuclear activities.

Iran, however, has disregarded the motions, arguing that the resolutions are in direct contradiction with International Atomic Energy Agency regulations, which clearly state that all countries are entitled to enrich uranium as part of a peaceful nuclear program.

China has called for more negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program after Russia suggested it may consider new sanctions against Tehran.

“We believe there is still room for diplomatic efforts and parties concerned should step up efforts,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang was quoted by AFP on Tuesday.

His remarks came after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Monday he was open to new anti-Iran sanctions but was hoping new punitive measures could be avoided.

“We are optimists and we are not losing the feeling that we may achieve success,” Medvedev told reporters after meeting with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris. “Nonetheless, if it doesn’t work out … Russia is ready to consider with our other partners the question of introducing sanctions.”

President Sarkozy said Russia would be onboard with US-led efforts to punish Iran for its nuclear work as long as the measures would not “create humanitarian dramas.”

The US and its European allies have been pushing hard for tough new sanctions against Iran in a bid to force the country meet their demands over its nuclear program.

Iran, a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, says its program is directed at the civilian applications of the technology, including energy production.

The West accuses the country of seeking nuclear weaponry. The allegation, however, is yet to be validated by the UN nuclear watchdog, whose inspectors monitor Iran’s activities extensively.

UN nuclear chief Yukiya Amano said in Vienna his agency continues to verify the non-diversion of Iran’s nuclear material. He, however, accused Tehran of not fully cooperating with the watchdog.

Iran’s foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, in response, said Tehran will continue to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

“We have fully cooperated with the agency. This cooperation will continue,” Mottaki said.

He also welcomed calls for further negotiations over the issue.

Beijing once again has shrugged off Washington’s call for harsher sanctions against Iran over its nuclear activities.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently said she expects the UN Security Council to impose new sanctions against Iran within the “next 30 to 60 days.”

Clinton claimed that the US administration’s overtures to Tehran have helped Washington gain greater international support for tougher sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

Clinton said, “Iran has left the international community little choice but to impose greater costs for its provocative steps.”

However, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said that his country believes diplomatic efforts have not yet been exhausted.

“We believe there is still diplomatic room for the Iranian nuclear issue,” Qin said.

“We hope all parties concerned can put the overall interest in their mind and enhance consultation and dialogue so as to come to a peaceful solution,” he added.

Qin said China would “continue to play a constructive role” in resolving the issue.

Aside from China, Russia — another veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council — has voiced opposition to new Iran sanctions proposed by Clinton.

Tehran has repeatedly declared that the Western-backed sanctions will not force it to give up the Iranian nation’s legitimate nuclear rights.

China has once again called for greater diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear energy program, calling on all parties to “show flexibility.”

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Tuesday that all relevant parties involved should promote dialogue and negotiations and show flexibility.

“We hope all parties concerned will continue to show flexibility and work for the comprehensive and proper resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic means,” he said.

Washington has threatened Beijing with diplomatic isolation if it does not go along with punitive measures against Tehran.

Tehran denies it wants to build an atomic bomb and says its enrichment is for electricity generation and medical isotopes.

“China believes that in the current stage, all relevant parties should continue deepening diplomatic efforts to maintain and push forward the process of talks and negotiations,” Chinese spokesman said.

A delegation of Israeli officials will visit China later this month reportedly to persuade Beijing officials to switch sides and support a new round of sanctions against Iran.

Headed by Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya’alon, the delegation will meet senior Chinese officials to discuss Iran’s nuclear program and the Israeli campaign for fresh sanctions on the country.

China, one of the five veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council, has taken a stand against Washington’s push for ‘paralyzing’ sanctions on Iran.

This has largely ruined Western hopes for more sanctions on Iran. The west has been struggling to force Iranians into giving up their enrichment program by subjecting them to high political and economic pressure.

The trip has come as a surprise because the political wheeling and dealing of Tel Aviv officials does not normally involve China.

Neither Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu nor Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman have visited China or held significant talks with Chinese officials on important issues.

However, the visit is seen as last-minute efforts by Israel to make up for the opportunity it lost with China when it focused all its diplomacy on the United States, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and Germany.

This comes as the UN nuclear watchdog released a new report on Tehran’s enrichment program, criticizing Iran for a range of issues, but verifying the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in the country at the same time.

The two-sided report, which struck a harsher tone comparing to the previous ones, has won plaudits from Israeli officials, who have an arsenal of 200 atomic warheads, but nevertheless accuse Iran of developing nuclear weapons.

Iran says that it is a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and unlike Israel, it ‘neither believes in atomic bombs nor is it seeking to develop such weapons.’

Saudi Arabia has rejected the US desire for it to persuade China against opposing the fourth round of UN Security Council sanctions against Iran.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asked the Saudis to reassure China that they will meet any shortfall in its oil needs if further UN sanctions are imposed on Iran.

But Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said on Monday that Chinese officials “need no suggestion from Saudi Arabia to do what they ought to do” over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear activities.

The Chinese “carry their responsibility” in dealing with Iran as a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, al-Faisal said after talks with Clinton in Riyadh.

“Sanctions are a long-term solution (but) … we see the issue in the shorter term because we are closer to the threat,” AFP quoted Prince Saud as saying.

“If we want security for the region, it requires an Iran at peace and happy with themselves,” he added.

Clinton arrived in the region to win the support of Arab Persian Gulf countries for a tougher line toward Tehran.

China has expressed reservations about imposing more sanctions on Iran and insists on more diplomatic efforts to resolve issues over Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran, which has been targeted with three rounds of UN sanctions, says its nuclear program is aimed at civilian applications of the technology and has repeatedly called for measures to eliminate all weapons of mass destruction across the globe.

The US and its allies, however, accuse the Islamic Republic of seeking military objectives in its nuclear pursuits. The UN’s nuclear watchdog has failed to find any evidence to substantiate such allegations.

The United States is still attempting to gain China’s support for its efforts to convince the United Nations to impose new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.

“We’re… going through the UN this month to present sanctions and achieve solidarity,” US National Security Advisor James Jones told Fox News on Sunday.

“We have tremendous [international] support. We need to work on China a little bit more,” he said, adding that “on this issue, they cannot be non-supportive.”

“Russia is supportive and is on board, and has been a steady friend and ally on this with President Obama,” Jones added.

However, according to some media reports, Beijing is ready to veto any United Nations Security Council resolution against Iran.

“It seems that Beijing is ready to make use of its veto to reject all anti-Iran decisions by the Security Council since China regards Iran as an important trade partner,” the leading pan-Arab daily al-Hayat wrote in its Friday edition .

On February 8, shortly after Iran informed the UN nuclear agency of its plans to enrich uranium to 20 percent purity for the Tehran research reactor, US, French, and Russian officials said that serious measures should be taken against Iran.

However, on February 9, China called on all parties involved in the talks on Iran’s nuclear program to work for a deal that would provide Iran the 20-percent enriched uranium needed for the Tehran research reactor.

US Vice President Joe Biden also said on Sunday that the United States is stepping up its efforts to win China’s support for a UN resolution imposing sanctions on Iran.

“We have the support of everyone from Russia to Europe. And I believe we’ll get the support of China to continue to impose sanctions on Iran to isolate them, to make clear that in fact they cannot move forward,” Biden said on NBC’s Meet the Press program.

The West is pressuring Iran to accept a UN-backed draft deal which requires Iran to send most of its domestically-produced low-enriched uranium abroad for conversion into the more refined fuel that the Tehran research reactor requires to produce radioisotopes for medical purposes.

But Iran has asked the International Atomic Energy Agency to facilitate its efforts to acquire the fuel, while taking its concerns into consideration.

Biden was dismissive of Iran’s nuclear achievements, saying, “The progress that Iran has made on the nuclear front is greatly exaggerated in my view.”

Meanwhile, Iran says it is still open to talks on a fuel swap with the West. However, Tehran insists that its “conditions,” mainly revolving around guarantee issues, must be taken into consideration if the West is interested in a fuel exchange with Iran.

Iran needs 120 kg (264 lb) of 20 percent-enriched uranium to fuel the Tehran research reactor, which will run out of fuel in the near future.

If the Tehran research reactor’s fuel completely runs out, there will be dire consequences for thousands of Iranians who desperately need radioisotopes for medical treatment.

Amid stepped up US efforts to punish Iran for planning to domestically produce nuclear fuel for a research reactor, China calls for increased diplomacy to resolve the nuclear standoff.

“Dialogues and negotiations are the best ways to resolve this issue,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ma Zhaoxu, said Thursday. “China is serious on safeguarding the effectiveness of the international system of nuclear non-proliferation.”

The Chinese official added that Beijing would contribute to an early resumption of the negotiations.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced Thursday that the country has produced its first batch of 20-percent enriched uranium, as it plans to supply the research reactor in Tehran, which produces medical isotopes.

The US, which accuses the country of seeking nuclear weaponry, has stepped up its anti-Iran rhetoric, calling on allies to back its initiative to impose fresh sanctions against the country over its nuclear program.

China, however, has argued that sanctions are not the way to pave ground for further negotiations on the issue.

Iran says its program is aimed at the civilian applications of the technology.

China has called all parties involved in talks on Iran’s nuclear issue to work toward a deal which would provide Iran with 20% enriched uranium needed for Tehran medical reactor.

“I hope the relevant parties will step up efforts and push for progress in the dialogue and negotiations,” China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said Tuesday at a regular news briefing in Beijing.

He added that reaching a deal on providing nuclear fuel for the medical reactor would help resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, the Chinese official refused to comment on sanctions that the West is advocating against Iran for its nuclear program.

The Pentagon says the US has asked the UN Security Council to approve a resolution within weeks to prepare the groundwork for new sanctions against Tehran.

On Tuesday, Iran began enriching uranium to a level of 20 percent at its Natanz enrichment facility under the surveillance of inspectors from the UN nuclear watchdog.

The move comes after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad tasked the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) with enriching uranium to 20 percent in order to meet the demands of the country’s cancer patients. The medical reactor will soon run out of fuel.

Iran had earlier informed the International Atomic Energy Agency that it would start enriching uranium to 20 percent on Tuesday in the presence of the agency’s inspectors and observers.

AEOI Director Ali-Akbar Salehi on Tuesday confirmed the beginning of uranium enrichment to a 20 percent purity level at the Natanz plant.

The top nuclear official said that the doors are still open for talks with Iran about a nuclear fuel swap.

“The beginning of the enrichment is not tantamount to the end of interaction and negotiations on a UN-brokered proposal on a fuel swap,” he said.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is still ready to continue cooperation if the negotiating parties act wisely and end wasting time,” Salehi underlined.

Iran says it began the high level uranium enrichment after the Western side spearheaded by the US refused to consider the country’s concerns over the nuclear draft deal.

As the US insists fresh sanctions against Iran should be implemented over its nuclear program, China says more diplomacy should be exercised over the issue.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters on Friday that Washington would continue to reach out to other sides involved in the issue, including China, to decide on fresh sanctions against Iran.

“We think it is important that we move now toward looking at what pressure, what sanctions can be brought to bear on the Iranians,” Clinton said. “We’re going to continue to reach out to all of our colleagues in this effort, including, of course, China.”

China, however, continues to resist the US call.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said more pragmatic diplomatic efforts had to be made regarding the Iranian nuclear program, which Tehran says is aimed at the civilian applications of the technology.

“This issue has entered a crucial stage. The parties concerned should, with their overall long-term interests in mind, step up diplomatic efforts, stay patient and adopt a more flexible, pragmatic and proactive policy.”

Last month, the six major powers met in New York but failed to agree on a new round of sanctions as Russia and China called for patience and restraint in dealing with Iran.

Since then the US has been lobbying veto-wielding China and Russia to consent to more sanctions against Iran, which is already under three rounds of UNSC sanctions over its nuclear work.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday that he would hold talks with his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, in Germany.

He said he would try “to convey the position of the [six world powers] about the need for Iran to answer the International Atomic Energy Agency’s questions and take certain steps that would assure us of the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.”

Lavrov said that an agreement on practical issues, such as the question of fuel supply for Tehran’s nuclear research reactor, would pave the way for renewing negotiations between the six world powers and Iran.

Lavrov, however, said that the issue would be brought up at the UN Security Council if Iran does not provide a “constructive reply.”

“If we do not see a constructive reply from the side of Iran, we will need to talk about that at the UN Security Council.”

The US and its allies accuse Tehran of pursuing military ends through its nuclear energy program. Iran denies the allegation.

After years of extensive inspections, the UN nuclear agency has not found any evidence that can be used to support US claims against Iran.

China has warned world powers against threatening Iran with sanctions over its nuclear energy program, saying such a move could prove to be counterproductive.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Thursday that threats of sanctions will make it harder to find a diplomatic solution to the Western disputes over Tehran’s nuclear program.

“To talk about sanctions at the moment will complicate the situation and might stand in the way of finding a diplomatic solution,” Yang said during a visit to France.

He added that Beijing wants the continuation of direct talks between Tehran and the so-called P5+1 — the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.

He made the comment ahead of a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris.

While the West is resolute on imposing more sanction on Iran, China and Russia insist that dialogue is the best way to resolve the issue.

“All countries, Iran included if they obey by IAEA rules, have a right to a peaceful use of nuclear energy,” said Yang.

Washington and its allies accuse Tehran of pursuing a military nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), however, has repeatedly said that it has found no evidence supporting the allegation.

The IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities, confirming the non-diversion of nuclear material in the country’s functional and under-construction plants.

Iran also denies the allegation, saying that it needs nuclear energy to produce electricity to meet the country’s growing demand.

China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has called for a diplomatic solution to the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.

The Chinese official made the proposal in Istanbul during a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on Wednesday.

Jiechi’s remarks come after four of the P5+1 (five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) members backed a range of new and tougher sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Despite Iran’s full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the transparency of its nuclear program, Israel, along with the United States and its European allies — Britain, France, and Germany — accuse the Islamic Republic of covertly seeking to produce nuclear weapons, an allegation that Tehran vehemently denies.

The IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence that Iran’s civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production.

The Islamic Republic of Iran insists its nuclear activities are solely aimed at the civilian applications of the technology such as generating electricity for a growing population.

China is slated to send a low ranking diplomat to a meeting of six world powers on Iran’s nuclear issue as the country keeps expressing reluctance to support tougher sanctions against Iran.

“Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei will not be able to attend because of scheduling issues, in the current circumstances, we hope that the relevant parties can continue seeking a diplomatic resolution, and demonstrate flexibility,” said the Chinese Foreign Ministry in a statement.

The six countries, which are known as the P5+1 group, are set to meet in New York on Saturday to hold discussions on whether to impose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.

China’s decision to send a low-ranking representative caused dismay among the US and its allies, who had expected the Asian state to send a higher-level diplomat to the talks.

Beijing and Moscow have been seeking diplomatic solutions to the dispute over Iran’s nuclear dossier, saying that tougher sanctions against Iran would be premature.

“We are aware that their representation will be below the level of political director, but it will be a useful meeting to have regardless of the Chinese representation,” US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters on Thursday.

“…the United States will continue to work with China and other countries to convince them that the urgency of the situation requires not only additional engagement, which China does support, but additional pressure, which obviously China is still working through,” he added.

Earlier on Monday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the meeting would focus on the degree and kind of sanctions.

The United States and Western countries accuse Iran of harboring military aspirations under the guise of civilian work, a claim categorically denied by the Iranian government.

Iran says it seeks to advance its nuclear program for peaceful purposes, particularly the generation of electricity for domestic use.

Bolivia is planning to buy six Chinese military planes and ten Russian-built helicopters this year to aid the government’s fight against drug trafficking.

On Thursday, Defense Minister Walker San Miguel told local radio that the Chinese planes have a price tag of USD 58 million and will be ready for delivery in about 18 months.

Bolivia has worked out special financing arrangements with China to allow La Paz to purchase the aircraft, the minister said.

The announcement comes as Bolivia bolsters its drug enforcement capabilities after ejecting US drug enforcement agents from its territory.

The removal of the US agents has allowed the Bolivian government to focus on regional aspects of the anti-drug fight, San Miguel told local radio.

San Miguel said the Bolivian government was also seeking congressional approval to purchase the 10 cargo helicopters for use by the police.

Bolivian President Evo Morales ordered the US Drug Enforcement Administration in November 2008 to leave, after accusing it of being involved in political unrest and drug-trafficking in the country.

The Chinese ambassador to Iran says all the parties involved in the discussions on Iran’s nuclear program should settle their differences in a constructive manner through continued negotiations and should refrain from taking any actions that might further complicate the situation.

“The parties involved in the Iranian nuclear issue should recognize the value of the enormous efforts already exerted, which must be saved from being made in vain. The continuation of negotiations is the most appropriate and realistic approach for the resolution of the issue. Only through negotiations can a solution be found that is in line with the interests of all the parties,” IRNA quoted Ambassador Xie Xiaoyan as saying in the Iranian city of Arak on Sunday.

The Chinese envoy added that China will continue its support for the diplomatic efforts to find an early and appropriate solution to the issue within the framework of International Atomic Energy Agency regulations and will make constructive efforts to this end.

Beijing has frequently called on all sides involved in the talks over Iran’s nuclear program to take a more “flexible and pragmatic” approach toward the negotiations.

“Dialogue and negotiation are the right ways of properly resolving the Iran nuclear issue, and there is still room for diplomatic efforts,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said on January 5. “We hope the relevant parties take more flexible and pragmatic measures and step up diplomatic efforts in a bid to resume talks as soon as possible.”

Israel, along with the United States and its European allies — Britain, France, and Germany — accuse the Islamic Republic of covertly seeking to produce nuclear weapons, an allegation that Tehran vehemently denies.

The IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that Iran’s civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production.

The Islamic Republic of Iran insists that its nuclear activities are only conducted for civilian applications of the technology and generating electricity in order to meet the country’s soaring demand for energy.