China voices satisfaction with progress in Iran-P5+1 talks

China has expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (the P5+1 group), Press TV reports. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said on Monday that the talks, held in Istanbul, were very positive as both sides had taken a constructive approach. “China thinks the talks were sincere, beneficial, and constructive. Given the hard work put in by all seven nations, this session of talks as a sustainable process of dialog ... achieved positive results,” he said. Liu added that China is willing to play a positive and constructive role in future negotiations. Iran and the P5+1 group wrapped up two rounds of negotiations in Istanbul on Saturday and agreed to hold the next round of talks in Baghdad on May 23, 2012. Both sides hailed the talks as successful and constructive. It was the second time that Istanbul hosted the comprehensive talks between Iran and the P5+1 group. Tehran and the P5+1 had previously held two rounds of talks, one in Geneva in December 2010 and another in Istanbul in January 2011.