Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke highly on Sept 12 of Iran's recent positive remarks on solving its nuclear issue and expressed his respect for the country's legal right to civil use of nuclear energy.

Xi made the remarks during his first meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, since they both assumed their positions earlier this year. They were in the Kyrgyzstan capital of Bishkek to attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit on Sept 13.

The meeting came two days after Rouhani said his country is ready to strike a deal with world powers over its nuclear program.

Rouhani has said Iran is "ready for a win-win game," and suggested fresh talks could take place when he travels to New York later this month to address the UN General Assembly.

In the Sept 12 talks, Xi said he highly values Iran's recent stance on the issue.

He said all sides "could focus on promoting practical dialogue, seek a mutually beneficial solution and consolidate the momentum of peaceful settlement", according to a press release from the Foreign Ministry.

Xi added that China respects the "justified and lawful rights and interests" of Iran and insists on solving the issue through dialogue and negotiations.

He promised constructive efforts from Beijing to promote peace and push forward talks on the issue.

Rouhani told Xi his country's nuclear program is peaceful and developed within the framework of international law and the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

"Iran would like to accept supervision from the International Atomic Energy Agency and eliminate the worries of the international community through cooperation," Rouhani said, according to the press release.

He said Iran expects a constructive role from China on the matter.

Xi and Rouhani also discussed the situation in Syria. Both countries have objected to proposed military strikes in that country.

Iran insists its nuclear program is for civil use, while Western countries claim Iran is secretly developing nuclear weapons.

The last round of talks with the big powers — the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany — was held in April in Kazakhstan, before Rouhani's election. All sides have said they want to resume talks soon.