On March 6, 2019, the meeting of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear issue was held in Vienna of Austria. Secretary General for the European External Action Service Helga Schmid chaired the meeting. Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi of Iran and relevant officials from Russia, the United Kingdom, France and Germany attended the meeting. Director-General of the Department of Arms Control of the Foreign Ministry Fu Cong led a delegation to attend the meeting.
Fu Cong said that since the Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the Iranian nuclear issue in July and September last year, with joint efforts of all parties and broad support from the international community, positive results have been made in safeguarding the JCPOA and the implementation mechanism of the JCPOA has been operating in an orderly manner. This is conducive to maintaining the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and peace and stability in the Middle East as well as to maintaining multilateralism and international rules under the current international situation. It serves the common interests of the international community. In the next stage, all parties should continue to adhere to principles and maintain unity, push for the continuous implementation of the JCPOA, and jointly resist unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. The Chinese side supports anything that is conducive to safeguarding the JCPOA. At the same time, the Chinese side will also firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.
After the meeting, Secretary General for the European External Action Service Helga Schmid issued a presidential statement according to the general practice, mainly stressing the following points. First, all parties reiterated their commitments to firmly safeguarding and implementing the JCPOA and will continue to maintain coordination and cooperation in this regard. Second, all parties welcomed Iran to continue to fulfill its obligations under the JCPOA in the nuclear field, appreciated the International Atomic Energy Agency's supervision and inspection of Iran in a neutral and professional manner, and supported the renovation of the Arak heavy-water reactor, the renovation of the Fordo nuclear facility, civil nuclear cooperation and other nuclear programs. Third, all parties stressed their firm commitments to the implementation of the statements of the two meetings between the Foreign Ministers last year, and expressed that they will step up discussions on practical measures and continue to maintain economic and trade cooperation with Iran. All parties welcomed the creation of the Instrument for Supporting Trade Exchanges for Iran by three European countries and supported its early operation and opening up to European countries and other countries.