Sino-Iran ties won't change amid intl changes

China's top legislator Wu Bangguo said on Sept 10 China's friendship and cooperation with Iran would not be affected amid international and regional changes.

During a meeting with Iranian parliament leader Ali Larijani in Teheran, Wu said China's friendship and cooperation with Iran is mutually beneficial, and they are an important part of China's independent and peaceful foreign policy.

"Such friendship and cooperation won't be changed with the alternation of international and regional situations," Wu said.

Wu, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, started his first-ever visit to Iran on Sept 9. It is also the first time in 16 years that China's top legislator has visited Teheran.

Wu told Larijani that one of the main purposes of his visit is to expand friendship and cooperation between governments, parliaments and parties of both countries.

He said China is keen to improve communication and coordination with Iran under multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and new models of pragmatic cooperation between the two countries could be discussed.

Larijani said Iran speaks highly of China's independent and peaceful foreign policy and the positive role China has played in international and regional issues. He said Iran would like to improve cooperation with China in energy, infrastructure construction, education, science and technology.

During the meeting, the two sides also exchanged views on Iran's nuclear issue and talked about China's dispute with Japan over the Diaoyu Islands. Wu reiterated that any action by Japan to "buy" the Diaoyu Islands is illegal and invalid and China is firmly against it.

Wu is scheduled to meet Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sept 11 to exchange views on bilateral ties and international and regional issues.