China and Iran plan to enhance cooperation in the field of energy, particularly in the peaceful use of nuclear power, Tehran's ambassador to Beijing said on Wednesday.
"Energy is one of the most important areas of cooperation between the two countries…and both sides will step up their international collaboration in all areas, including peaceful nuclear energy," Ali Asghar Khaji told a seminar on Sino-Iran civil nuclear cooperation under the Iran nuclear agreement, which was held in Beijing, IRNA reported.
Several senior officials including Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and Yiren Wang, vice chairman of the China Atomic Energy Authority, attended the meeting.
The ambassador hailed Beijing's support for the 2015 accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which was signed between Iran and six world powers -- the US, Britain, Russia, France, China plus Germany.
*** Reactor Redesign
Khaji said China played an "active" role in the implementation of the deal, which lifted some economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.
The redesigning of the Arak reactor in central Iran as part of the international pact is one of the major joint projects, which is "well underway", he said.
The fate of the heavy water reactor was one of the toughest sticking points in the extended nuclear negotiations that led to the historic agreement.
In the redesign, the reactor will be reconfigured to reduce the plant’s ability to yield fissile plutonium usable in a nuclear bomb, according to Reuters. The contract to execute the project was signed between Iranian and Chinese firms in 2017.
Iran has said the 40-megawatt plant is aimed at producing isotopes for cancer and other medicines and has denied that its nuclear activities are geared to developing weapons.
In his speech, the envoy described Iran as "the safest country in the Middle East," saying it can play a key role in meeting China's rising energy demand and energy security goals.
Khaji added that the two countries should work together to tackle common threats and safeguard their mutual interest.
