BEIJING - A top Chinese newspaper stepped up Beijing's opposition to a Western push for tighter sanctions against Iran, warning on Friday that tensions over Tehran's nuclear programme are hurting energy markets and could stifle the global economic recovery.5.39.217.76- y: `6 r+ |, J6 U: L
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China's criticism of tighter sanctions on Iran, designed to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, appeared in the People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party.TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。% N) P* w6 _3 @" J3 V+ V( R7 J$ m
$ Q1 @9 N# v8 `$ f) q$ z0 C5.39.217.76It comes a day after German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Beijing to use its influence to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear weapons programme.5.39.217.76& x# k( m2 E0 v! [- G, S
& X# H) w4 P" ?+ }. mTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。"The global economy is in the midst of a difficult economic recovery and reducing the shocks of uncertainties is the common responsibility of countries all over the world," the People's Daily commentary said.5.39.217.760 Q8 s% t6 V5 o" w4 m6 K
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"In the near term, the sudden spike in tensions between the United States and Iran is now posing the greatest uncertainty. This factor is disrupting global energy markets and has cast a shadow over the global economic recovery."
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The commentary appeared under the pen-name of "Zhong Sheng", which in Chinese sounds like "Voice of the Centre" or "Voice of China", suggesting it reflects high-level government views.
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China, the world's second-largest crude consumer, has long opposed unilateral sanctions that target Iran's energy sector and has tried to reduce tensions that could threaten its oil supply.
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The energy tensions are a particular worry for China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil. Only Saudi Arabia and Angola sell more crude to China than Iran.
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Escalating tensions between Iran and the West over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme - which have led to Iranian threats to close the vital Straits of Hormuz Gulf oil export route - have pushed up Brent crude prices by about 9 per cent since mid-December.7 M+ W0 X# N. C
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On Thursday, at a joint media briefing after what Germany's Merkel described as "long discussions" about Iran, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao appeared to reject the pressure to do more.
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He said Beijing objected to Western nations politicizing the"normal commercial relationship" it has with the Islamic Republic (of Iran), echoing language that China has used before.
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, O( p' C: H- P# UMerkel, who is in China on a three-day visit, said on Thursday she hoped the U.N. Security Council could pass a unanimous resolution on the Iran issue.5 M8 }" |. }" n
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The United States imposed the harshest sanctions on Iran when President Barack Obama signed into law sanctions on transactions involving Iran's central bank on Dec. 31.
% D) S7 v7 l3 \6 Z! gThe European Union imposed a ban on the import, purchase or transport of Iranian oil in January.
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The commentary reiterated China's stance that dialogue should be used to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.
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China has backed U.N. Security Council resolutions calling on Iran to halt uranium enrichment activities, while working to ensure its energy ties are not threatened. ' Z: @! l I0 `' A2 f" B+ l
TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。7 m: r' }$ h4 E+ p8 j- a
In January, Wen forthrightly warned Tehran against any effort to acquire nuclear weapons. |
發表於 2012-2-3 02:23 PM
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