SHANGHAI -- Chinese President Hu Jintao met his Iranian counterpart Mahmud 
Ahmadinejad in Shanghai Friday to exchange views on bilateral relations and the 
Iranian nuclear issue.
Hu said the Chinese government attaches great importance to developing 
friendly cooperative relations with Iran and wishes to continuously expand 
bilateral cooperation. 
 
 
   Iran's President 
 Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (L) meets China's President Hu Jintao before their 
 bilateral meeting at the Xijiao State Guest House in Shanghai June 16, 
 2006. [Reuters] | 
He proposed the two 
countries enhance political consultation, intensify traditional friendship and 
continue contacts and communication in diverse forms and at all levels. 
China and Iran should deepen economic cooperation, achieve mutual benefit, 
maintain rapid growth in bilateral trade, and actively nurture new areas for 
economic cooperation, Hu told Ahmadinejad. 
Meanwhile, the two countries should push forward dialogues between their 
different civilizations, enhance exchanges in cultural sectors, seek mutual 
respect and common development, refer to each other's experiences and encourage 
more friendly contacts between the two peoples, he added. 
Ahmadinejad echoed Hu's proposals, saying the Iranian side is willing to 
intensify cooperation with China in diverse sectors including energy, 
transportation, telecommunication, power industry and shipbuilding. 
He agreed that further cultural and sports exchanges and dialogues between 
their different civilizations would help enhance understanding between the two 
peoples. 
Regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, Hu said China understands Iran's concern 
over its right to the peaceful use of nuclear power, upholds the international 
non-proliferation system and insists the Iranian nuclear issue should be settled 
properly through talks. 
At present, the critical point in the Iranian nuclear issue is to build 
mutual trust between Iran and the international community, said Hu. 
A package of incentives raised by China, Russia, the United States and Europe 
has provided a new opportunity for the settlement of the issue. The Chinese 
president said he hoped the Iranian side would earnestly study and actively 
respond to these incentives and seek an earlier resumption of the nuclear talks. 
"The Chinese side is willing to maintain close communication with Iran and 
all other parties concerned and play a constructive role in seeking a proper 
solution to the Iranian nuclear issue," Hu said. 
Ahmadinejad said his country is willing to maintain peace and stability in 
the region and the world at large. All the Iranian nuclear programs are peaceful 
and Iran does not need, nor does it seek to, develop nuclear weapons, he said. 
Iran is willing to solve the nuclear issue peacefully through consultation, 
said the president. He added the EU's proposal is better than before and has 
provided new opportunities for resumption of talks. "We're studying the proposal 
and will respond in the near future." 
The two presidents spoke highly of bilateral ties 35 years after their 
countries forged diplomatic relations. 
"China and Iran are both developing countries and the two peoples have a long 
history of friendly exchanges," said Hu. "We have reached wide consensus in 
international affairs and maintained close consultation and coordination on UN 
reform and human rights issues." 
Meanwhile, the two countries have reported robust trade growth and their 
economic and technological cooperation has proven fruitful, he said. 
Ahmadinejad is in Shanghai for the annual summit meeting of the Shanghai 
Cooperation Organization held on Thursday. Iran is an observer of the 
organization that groups China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and 
Uzbekistan.