Xi urges Iran to seek positive results in Geneva talks

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged Iran to seek positive results in the upcoming talks over its nuclear program in Geneva.

The previous round of talks in Geneva earlier this month helped defuse tension and kept talks going, Xi told Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a telephone conversation.

The talks, Xi said, were in line with the direction of a political settlement of the issue.

Xi asked the Iranian side to seize the opportunity of the new round of talks to be kicked off Wednesday and to seek broadest consensus with the P5+1 -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany.

China, as a party to the Geneva talks, is willing to work positively to create conditions for a comprehensive settlement of this issue, Xi said.

He said China stands for a peaceful solution through negotiations on the basis of mutual respect, incremental approach and reciprocity.

China appreciates Tehran's efforts to improve relations with the international community, he said.

The Chinese president said his country attaches great importance to its relations with Iran, and looks at them in a long-term perspective. China is willing to work with Iran to enhance mutual trust and carry out practical cooperation, Xi said.

Rouhani stated Iran's position that the nuclear issue should be settled in accordance with international law and norms of international relations.

He appreciated China's impartial stand and its efforts to encourage talks, and expressed hope that China can continue to play a constructive role in the upcoming talks and push for win-win results.

Rouhani said he was impressed with the meeting with Xi in Bishkek in September at a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

Tehran takes Iran-China relations as a priority in its foreign policy and is willing to enhance cooperation with China so as to carry forward bilateral relations.

During their conversation, Xi also extended condolences to Rouhani over the terrorist attack on the Iranian Embassy in Beirut and said that China is against all forms of terrorism. Rouhani thanked Xi for his condolences.