China on Tuesday called for more diplomatic efforts to achieve a comprehensive and long-term solution to the Iran nuclear issue.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu made the remarks at a regular news briefing when asked to comment on a Jan. 10 report on CNN, in which Head of the U.S. Central Command David Petraeus said that in addition to diplomacy and sanctions, the United States had developed contingency plans in dealing with Iran's nuclear facilities.

Jiang said China expected the parties involved in the issue to intensify diplomatic efforts, safeguard and promote the process of dialogue and actively seek a comprehensive, long-term and proper solution to the issue.

China has consistently advocated a peaceful resolution of the Iran nuclear issue through diplomatic negotiations, so as to maintain the validity of the international nuclear non-proliferation system and peace and stability in the Middle East region, said Jiang.

"We always believe that sanctions are not the way to solve the root issues," she said.