China is willing to enhance exchange and cooperation with Iran in all aspects and to push the friendly cooperation ties, which are long-term stable and rich in content, to a new high, said Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing Thursday.

Hu told visiting Iranian Vice President Mohammad Setarifar that the China-Iran ties progressed further in the new century with the care and promotion from the two countries' leaders.

Common consensuses between China and Iran in regional and international affairs were increasing, Hu said.

The two countries' exchange in all fields and aspects was more active. Trade and economic cooperation expanded quickly, Hu said.

The cultural dialogue between China and Iran also served to promote understanding and friendship between the two peoples, the Chinese president said.

As developing countries, China and Iran were both endeavored to make economic progress and improve the people's living standards and were facing the common task of maintaining and promoting regional peace, stability and development, Hu acknowledged.

Iran and China share long-term friendship and they kept sound relationships and good cooperation in all fields, Setarifar said.

The two countries' consensuses in many aspects were conducive for them to realize economic development and maintain world peace.

Potential in economic cooperation between the two countries was also huge and Iran will enhance cooperation with China on oil and natural gas, mining and traffic, Setarifar said.

Setarifar was here to co-chair a China-Iran commission meeting for economic, trade, scientific and technological cooperation, which was spoken highly of by the Chinese president.

(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2004)