Gates discusses Iran with Chinese minister

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, far left, chats with Chinese Central Military Commission Executive Vice Chairman General Guo Bixiong in Beijing on Nov. 5.


Gates discusses Iran with Chinese minister
By Lolita C. Baldor - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Nov 5, 2007 17:46:26 EST

BEIJING — The United States and China agreed to work together to steer Iran away from its nuclear ambitions, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates expects to discuss the U.S. push for new sanctions against Tehran when he sees Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday.

Gates, after a 90-minute meeting Monday with Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan, said the two “agreed that is it important to pursue efforts to persuade the Iranian government to change their behavior and their policies peacefully, through diplomatic means.”

And, with a nod to China’s reluctance to support greater economic sanctions against Iran, Gates said he stressed to Cao the importance of using such pressure to convince the Iranian government “to make different choices.” Tehran is suspected of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, something it denies.

U.S. defense officials, describing Gates’ meeting with Cao on condition of anonymity because it was private, said the U.S. delegation was pleased with the quality of the discussion about Iran. The Chinese, they said, were “very strong” in saying that they are united in opposing a nuclear-armed Iran.

Looking ahead to Gates’ meeting with Hu, the defense officials said they’re hoping for a stronger statement from the Chinese leader on the use of sanctions and other pressure against Iran.

The U.S. has repeatedly raised concerns that the Chinese are providing conventional weapons and other dual-use technologies that can have nuclear applications to countries such as Iran, Cuba and Venezuela. Some weapons sold to Iran have surfaced in Afghanistan and Iraq, prompting the Pentagon to call for the Chinese to better control their sales to Iran.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/11/ap_gates_071105/