Dialogue only solution to nuclear issue: Iran, China

Astana, Jun 15: Underlining dialogue and negotiation as the only solution to nuclear issue, Presidents of Iran and China have discussed regional and international developments and ways of expanding bilateral ties.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is in Kazakhstan to attend the Tenth Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, in a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao here last afternoon, called ties between the two countries ''strategic'' and ''sustainable'' and underlined necessity of increasing and consolidating bilateral, regional and international cooperation between Tehran and Beijing.

Referring to importance of coordination between the two countries concerning regional issues and north Africa, Ahmadinejad said that Iran believes nations of the region are able to solve their own problems and interference of alien countries in the regional issues, not only does not help solve the problem, but makes them more complicated.

Ahmadinejad, by referring to Iran's nuclear issue, appreciated China's transparent stance in this concern and added that Iran has always been eager for interaction, dialogue and logic and today we are ready again for constructive and positive dialogue and we believe if both sides take the path of dialogue and interaction instead of confrontation, it will be beneficial for both sides.

Referring to historical and cultural commonalities between Iran and China, Ahmadinejad stated that mutual relations in recent years have had a noticeable growth and Iran, considering its existing capacities, has proposed clear offers for promoting ties and cooperation.

IRNA