China In Accord With Russia On Iran

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Iran during Putin's two-day visit to China, which ended on March 22.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang today said both sides agreed the issue should be resolved through diplomacy and that all parties should display "flexibility and patience."

The UN Security Council has been studying a U.S. draft statement calling on Iran to end nuclear research.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on March 22 Russia would not back the draft. He said it would "provide a basis for sanctions against Iran" and Russia considers that to be premature.

(Reuters, AP)