State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on June 15 that dialogue and negotiation, instead of sanctions, are important to help solve the Iran nuclear issue.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, is a hard-won achievement of multilateralism, and should be maintained by adhering to principles, dialogue and cooperation, Wang said.

He made the remarks at a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu after their meeting in Beijing. Cavusoglu kicked off a two-day visit to China on June 14.

Wang said there is no reason not to ensure the integrity and sanctity of this international deal as it has played an effective role in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.

Last month, the United States pulled out from the landmark deal.

“Of course, this deal cannot solve all problems, just as an umbrella cannot cover the heads of 100 people,” Wang said, suggesting that issues outside of the deal be solved through other dialogues.

The key is to be patient and maintain the dialogue mechanism instead of resorting to confrontation, he said.

The state councilor also said that the great efforts of the global society over the past decade on the Iran nuclear issue are aimed at giving full consideration to the concerns of all parties through cooperation.

According to Wang, China has always carried out public and transparent cooperation with Iran that benefit people’s livelihood under the premise of fulfilling its international obligations. “We are also glad to see the international community cooperate with Iran,” he said, “and we hope such mutually beneficial cooperation could be continued without being disturbed.”