China: Diplomacy Best Way to Resolve Iranian Nuclear Issue

China has called for diplomatic efforts to resolve the controversy over Iran's nuclear program, saying "dialogue and negotiation" are the best ways to address the issue.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Jiang Yu, Tuesday said China hopes all countries involved in talks on Iran take a more "flexible and pragmatic" approach.  

Her comments come one day after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Washington has begun talks with its allies about imposing new sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program.

Clinton also said the U.S. wants to keep the door open for dialogue with Iran.  But she added that Washington cannot continue to wait while Iranian officials talk about increasing production of highly enriched uranium.

An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, responded Tuesday to Clinton's comments, saying that setting any deadline would be meaningless.

China has long called for more dialogue to resolve the Iranian nuclear controversy.

The United States and its Western allies accuse Iran of working to produce a nuclear weapon.  Iran says its atomic program is for peaceful purposes to generate electricity.