BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- China hopes Iran and other parties concerned to take positive actions, demonstrate necessary flexibility to create conditions for a proper settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman LiuJianchao here Tuesday.

    In response to a question on the just-concluded working visit to Iran by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Lu Guozeng, Liu said China and Iran held "in-depth" and "candid" discussions on the Iranian nuclear standoff.

    During the visit, Lu met respectively with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iran's Supreme Security Council secretary Ali Larijani, and held political consultation with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Safari, Liu said.

    Lu expounded China's stance on the country's nuclear standoff to the Iranian side. The Chinese side hopes the issue could be peacefully solved through negotiations within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

    The Iranian side said it is ready to solve the issue within the framework of the IAEA, and is willing to maintain cooperation withthe IAEA to seek a solution, the spokesman said.

    China spoke positively of the progress of China-Iran relations since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 35 years ago, and vows to enhance bilateral cooperation in the political, economic and cultural fields, Liu said.

    As to the negotiations between Russia and Iran on the Iran nuclear issue, Liu said China supports the two sides to hold negotiation, and hopes the talks can achieve positive results. Enditem