On April 22, 2016, the six countries on Iranian nuclear issue (5 permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) and Iran held in Vienna the 1st Joint Committee meeting since the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iranian Nuclear Issue (JCPOA). Deputy Secretary General for the European External Action Service (EEAS) Helga Schmid chaired the meeting. Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi of Iran, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon of the US and officials of Russia, the UK, France and Germany attended the meeting. Director General of the Department of Arms Control of the Foreign Ministry Wang Qun was present.

Wang Qun said that lately, the leaders’ meeting of six countries on the Iranian nuclear issue was held in Washington, D.C., charting the political course for and injecting political impetus into the implementation of the JCPOA. It is the 1st Joint Committee meeting held by the six countries and Iran since the implementation of the JCPOA. All parties should jointly safeguard the positive momentum and favorable atmosphere of the implementation of the JCPOA, stick to the political commitment, and exclude external interference, so as to ensure the implementation of the JCPOA stays in its course. As an active participant, promoter and contributor to the process of political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue, China stands ready to work with all sides to promote the thorough and comprehensive implementation of the JCPOA and let it benefit all parties.

All parties discussed issues related to the implementation of the JCPOA, including nuclear field measures and sanction relieving, and positively evaluated the implementation of the JCPOA. All parties said that they will continue to implement the JCPOA in a comprehensive and balanced manner, and solve each other's concerns through dialogues and negotiations. All sides also expressed appreciations for China's effort in advancing the modification of the Arak heavy water reactor.