Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with Iran's First Vice President Parviz Davoodi in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, on April 17, 2009. Davoodi arrived here to attend the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2009 which would be held in Boao, a scenic town in Hainan, from April 17 to 19. [Xinhua]

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met on Friday with Parviz Davoodi, first vice president of Iran, in south China's Hainan Province.

Wen said to develop friendship and cooperation between China and Iran is conducive to the fundamental interests of both countries and world peace and development as well.

"China respects Iran's nuclear program for peaceful purpose, resolutely safeguards the international non-proliferation system and advocates that the Iranian nuclear issue should be peacefully resolved through negotiation," said Wen.

He also called on relevant parties involved in the Iranian nuclear issue to seize the current favorable opportunity and make positive efforts to restart the negotiation as soon as possible.

China is willing to continue to play a constructive role, he added.

Davoodi, who is here to attend the 2009 meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) scheduled for April 17-19, said Iran is willing to resolve the nuclear issue and improve ties with relevant countries on the basis of mutual respect. "But we care more about actions," he said.

Concerning the current global financial crisis, Wen said the crisis has brought dramatic changes to the world economy and political structure. China is willing to maintain high-level contacts and exchanges of all levels, strengthen cooperation and coordination with Iran and jointly tackle the challenges, he said.

"We should also steadily further our energy cooperation, explore the potential of finance and trade cooperation, so as to advance our mutual beneficial cooperation," Wen said.

Davoodi said developing countries should strengthen cooperation, jointly cope with the global financial crisis and promote the reform of the global financial system.

Leaders and former leaders of more than a dozen countries and regions are invited to attend this year's BFA annual meeting.

The meeting is widely regarded as a platform where delegates can explore ways of addressing the crisis, raising confidence and enhancing the economic growth of Asia.

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2009)