China hopeful on Iran nuke agreement

China hopes the parties involved in Iranian nuclear talks can exert more political will and meet an upcoming deadline to reach an agreement ending Tehran's controversial nuclear program, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Monday.

Hua Chunying made the remarks at a regular press conference when asked to comment on the negotiations in the Austrian capital of Vienna last week.

After trilateral meetings of top diplomats from the United States, the European Union and Iran, political directors of China, France, Russia, Britain, the United States, Germany and Iran met on Thursday, trying to narrow gaps for an agreement by the Nov. 24 deadline.

Wang Qun, China's envoy to the talks and director-general of China's Department of Arms Control, said the sides are still faced with difficulties in reaching a deal by the deadline. Although there had been some progress made in the talks, he said that "creative ideas are needed for a breakthrough."

China will continue to work with the parties involved to push for a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial agreement at an early date, said Hua.

The talks in Vienna were hit by disputes over what limits should be placed on Iran's atomic activities, particularly its enrichment of uranium, and on the process of lifting U.S., UN and European sanctions.

However, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday that Iran and the six world powers have drawn closer to an agreement.

"We must spare no effort as long as there is a ray of hope," Hua said.

China has always backed all ideas and proposals to advance the talks and will help facilitate a comprehensive deal on schedule, according to the spokeswoman.

The six countries seek to prevent Iran making nuclear weapons material at the country's uranium enrichment plants and a plutonium-producing reactor in Arak.

Tehran's leaders say they need uranium to fuel power reactors and that the Arak reactor serves only scientific and medical purposes.