China, Iran seek strong ties

Chinese President Hu Jintao has met his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the sidelines of the SCO summit.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Iranian President  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Yekaterinburg, Russia, June 16, 2009.  (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

President Hu Jintao began by reviewing bilateral ties, noting closer political contacts, expanded economic cooperation and cultural, educational and tourism exchanges. Hu Jintao advocated maintaining high-level contacts for increasing understanding and expanding consensus.

The Chinese president identified energy cooperation as an area for boosting trade ties. He called for maintaining communications to cope with the international financial crisis and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

Ahmadinejad expressed hope for attaching strategic importance to long-term economic and trade ties. He also called for expanding exchanges and turn challenges into opportunities for greater cooperation.