Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing conferred here Saturday with the Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on expansion of mutual, regional, international cooperation as well as issues pertaining to Iran`s peaceful application of nuclear technology. At the meeting, Rafsanjani underlined that the Islamic Republic of Iran has adopted a very transparent stance on peaceful application of nuclear technology and said the country is ready to conduct much more closer negotiations with the IAEA to assure the international community of its peaceful and humanitarian application of nuclear technology.

If the Europeans prove they are sincere in their negotiations, the two sides will reach a comprehensive agreement, he said. According to the Public Relations Department of the Expediency Council, Rafsanjani referred to Iran`s voluntary suspension of uranium enrichment program and said the country spares no efforts to conduct a transparent cooperation under international rules and regulations but it is against any bullying as well as illogical behavior which are futile.

Lauding the Chinese government for supporting the legitimate right of the Islamic Republic of Iran in benefiting from nuclear technology, he said the country wishes to resolve the case under supervision of IAEA in a way that its legitimate rights are fully respected. Given the global responsibility of China, it is expected that the country will back Iran`s legitimate rights at international fora, he said.

Expressing satisfaction with the expansion of cooperation between Iran and China, he said the two sides are now experiencing a very calm and consolidated cooperation but the interests of both sides urge Tehran and Beijing to further broaden the current level of bilateral cooperation, he said. Rafsanjani also called for implementation of agreements signed earlier between the two countries.

The Chinese foreign minister, for his part, highlighted his country`s political and economic situation and said China supports the Islamic Republic of Iran`s legitimate rights in benefiting from peaceful application of nuclear technology. Beijing believes that the issue should be resolved under supervision of IAEA, he said adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran has had a very positive and good cooperation with Europe as well as the IAEA. "We oppose the case to be referred to the United Nations Security Council, because this would be against the interests of the countries in the region and even those of developed countries," he said.

Beijing attaches importance to the significant role of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the region, he said adding that the two sides which benefit from deeply-rooted historical ties should further broaden and upgrade their level of relations and cooperation. At the end of the meeting, the Chinese foreign minister extended an invitation to Hashemi Rafsanjani to pay an official visit to China which was welcomed. The Chinese foreign minister arrived in Tehran on Saturday to hold a two-day meeting with Iranian officials.