BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese and Russian diplomats said on Thursday that the two heads of state will discuss the Iranian and Korean nuclear issues during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to China next week.

    "The two sides will discuss these major issues which affect them both," said Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui at a routine news conference Thursday.

    Russian Ambassador to China Sergey Razov co-hosted the press conference with Li on the Year of Russia to be held in China. Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao will jointly inaugurate the event in Beijing.

    Russia and China, as active participants in the multilateral talks, have had close contact in trying to resolve the Iranian and Korean nuclear issues, said Razov.

    The two countries share common ground on the two different issues, and persevere in solving them with diplomatic means, said Razov.

    With regard to the Korea nuclear issue, Li said the confrontation between the United States and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has blocked the process of the six-party talks. China hopes that the two countries can settle their differences and resume the talks as soon as possible.

    "China values the important role Russia has played in the talks and is ready to make joint efforts with Russia for creating a nuclear weapon-free peninsula and safeguarding peace and stability in the region," Li said. Enditem