China welcomes progress on Iranian nuclear issue

China on Tuesday welcomed the latest progress on the Iranian nuclear issue by Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the comment after media reports said on Sunday that updated design information about Iran's Arak heavy water reactor had been submitted to the IAEA.

"China hopes Iran and the IAEA can work together to ensure the full and effective implementation of relevant deals. We also hope Iran and the P5+1 group can achieve a comprehensive agreement soon," Hua said at a daily news briefing.

Iran and the P5+1 group, namely Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany, clinched an interim deal last November, in which Iran agreed to cap its nuclear program in exchange for easing some financial sanctions against it.

Iran's uranium enrichment capacity and Arak heavy water reactor comprise a major part of the negotiations for a comprehensive nuclear deal between Iran and the six world powers. Iran has proposed redesign of the core of the reactor and reduction of plutonium output to one fifth of the plant's capacity.

The fourth round of talks is scheduled for next week, in a bid to draft a comprehensive agreement that allows Iran to continue its nuclear program while reassuring the powers it will not be used for military purposes.