China welcomes and places importance on the agreement that Iran signed with Brazil and Turkey on fuel supply to its research reactor, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said Tuesday.

Iran signed the deal in Tehran with Turkey and Brazil on Monday. Under the agreement, Iran will ship most of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for higher-grade uranium fuel needed for its research reactor in Tehran.

Ma said at a routine press conference that China hopes this move will help advance the peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiation.

Ma said China has always adhered to the dual-track strategy on resolving the Iranian nuclear issue. China has always insisted that dialogue and negotiation are the best way to resolve the issue.

Ma expressed the hope that relevant actions by the UN Security Council would help safeguard the international non-proliferation system, maintain peace and stability in the Middle East region and advance proper resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue.

The United States and some other Western countries suspect Iran of developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear energy program. But Iran insists its program is peaceful.

Earlier on Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also welcomed the nuclear fuel agreement between Iran and Brazil and Turkey. Yang told reporters during his visit to Tunisia that China was ready to work with other relevant parties to play a constructive role in pushing for diplomatic resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue.