Chinese President Hu Jintao says Iran's nuclear rights must be respected and efforts should be made to reach a negotiated settlement in the dispute over Tehran's nuclear activities, Press TV reported.
"China backs Iran's peaceful nuclear program, and believes dialogue is the best way to resolve the issue," Hu said during a meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the Kazakh capital Astana on the sidelines of the 10th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, IRNA reported.
He also underlined the need to increase Sino-Iranian cooperation at the regional and international levels.
"Like Iran, China is opposed to foreign interference in the affairs of regional countries' affairs and believes all questions should be settled through peaceful and diplomatic means," Hu added.
Ahmadinejad expressed his appreciation of China's clear stance on Iran's nuclear program.
He said the Iranian nation favors cooperation and dialogue and is prepared to resume "constructive and positive" talks.
The two leaders also discussed the latest regional and international developments as well as ways to expand bilateral ties.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran believes regional nations can settle their own issues and problems, and meddling by foreign countries not only does not help resolve issues, but further complicates them," Ahmadinejad stated.