On October 15, 2009, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met at the Great Hall of the People with Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi, who is here for the eighth prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states.

"The Sino-Iranian relationship has witnessed rapid development, as the two countries' leaders have had frequent exchanges, and cooperation in trade and energy has widened and deepened," Wen said.

Wen said China attached importance to developing ties with Iran and would maintain high-level exchanges with Iran, enhance mutual understanding and trust, promote bilateral pragmatic cooperation and coordinate closely in international affairs. China would continue playing a constructive role in seeking a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, Wen said.

Rahimi congratulated Wen on the success of the eighth prime ministers' meeting of the SCO member states. He said Iran and China were friendly nations and Iran attached great importance to ties with China. Developing the bilateral relationship was the will of both the Iranian leaders and people. Iran hoped to further deepen cooperation with China in trade and energy, strengthen coordination in international affairs and promote steady development of bilateral relations, he said.