September 7, 2008 (LPAC)--Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics. Hu said that he hoped the two countries could ``enhance political exchanges, deepen mutually-beneficial cooperation, explore new areas of bilateral cooperation, strengthen international cooperation and work together to maintain regional and global peace and stability."

On the Iran nuclear issue, the Chinese president noted that the Chinese side respects Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, supports safeguarding the international non-proliferation regime, and adheres to the peaceful settlement of the Iran nuclear issue through dialogues and negotiations. "At present, the Iran nuclear issue is faced with a rare opportunity for the resumption of talks,'' Hu said, ``and we hope all parties concerned could seize the opportunity and show flexibility, to push for a peaceful settlement of the issue.''

Hu also assured the Iranian leader that China would oppose any move by Western countries to use military force against Iran. The occasion of the Beijing Olympics and now the Paralympics has given the Chinese leader an unprecedented opportunity for bilateral meetings with the various world leaders attending the games.