Commenting on his Wednesday meeting with President Xi in Beijing, Larijani said the two sides “held very constructive negotiations” and “Tehran and Beijing’s views on important regional and global issues are very close,” Press TV reported.

Larijani added that both Iran and China believe that they can take effective steps in investment, economy and trade.

The Iranian top lawmaker also touched upon the recent round of nuclear talks between Iran and the six major world powers -- the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany -- in Geneva, stressing that Tehran’s nuclear energy program has never been diverted toward nuclear weapons.

“In the latest negotiations in Geneva, we tabled a proposal, which we hope will bear fruit as soon as possible with China's cooperation,” said the Iranian official.

Iran and the six world powers held two days of discussions over Tehran’s nuclear energy program behind closed doors in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 15-16. The two sides agreed to meet again in Geneva on November 7-8 after the expert-level meeting, which is underway in the Swiss city.

Xi, for his part, underlined that such friendly ties between Iran and China are in the interest of both nations and the entire region, saying that Beijing is ready to expand bilateral relations with Tehran in different spheres.

The two sides also exchanged views on the deadly crisis in Syria, stressing the need for a political solution to the turmoil, which erupted in the Arab country in March 2011.

HH/HH