On July 28, 2019, the special meeting of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear issue was held in Vienna of Austria, discussing relevant issues on the implementation of the JCPOA. Secretary General for the European External Action Service Helga Schmid chaired the meeting. Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi of Iran, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov of Russia and relevant officials from 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 the meeting.

Fu Cong said, to ensure full and effective implementation of the JCPOA is required by the resolutions of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, and it is also the only practical and effective way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue. The Chinese side hopes that all parties concerned can stay calm and exercise restraint, persist in resolving differences within the framework of the Joint Commission, and promote to ease the current tension. Meanwhile, all parties should earnestly shoulder their own responsibilities, ensure the balance of rights and obligations of the JCPOA, and guarantee Iran's economic dividend in particular. China will continue to work with all parties to advance the modification project of the Arak heavy-water reactor.

Fu Cong stressed that the root cause of the current tension of the Iranian nuclear issue lies in the maximum pressure of the United States on Iran. The Chinese side resolutely opposes the US side's bullying practice of imposing sanctions on China's Zhuhai Zhenrong Company Limited and its principals, and asks the Joint Commission to adopt a common position on safeguarding the rights of all parties endowed by the JCPOA to carry out normal energy cooperation with the Iranian side. The Chinese side will continue to firmly safeguard and implement the JCPOA and firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.

At the meeting, all parties reiterated to seek to resolve issues related to the implementation of the JCPOA within the framework of the Joint Commission and ensure full and effective implementation of the JCPOA. All parties also resolutely opposed unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction the US has pursued to obstruct other countries' implementation of the JCPOA, and promised to continue taking measures to reduce the impact of the US side's unilateral sanctions.