Premier Wen Jiabao and his German counterpart Chancellor Angela Merkel held a telephone conversation yesterday afternoon, during which they conferred on solving the Iranian nuclear issue through negotiations, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The two sides exchanged views on further developing Sino-German relations and settling the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic negotiations and with peaceful means, the ministry said.

A statement from the German Government said the two leaders discussed Iran's nuclear programme "at length," and underscored their common goal to find a solution to the nuclear problem with diplomatic means.

During a phone conversation last Thursday President Hu Jintao told US President George W. Bush that he welcomed the US stance on resolving the Iran nuclear issue through diplomatic means and its willingness to join negotiations on the issue.

"China is ready to maintain contact and co-ordination with the United States and play a constructive role in resuming negotiations at an early date," Hu was quoted as saying in  a Foreign Ministry statement.

Bush told Hu that his country was determined to resolve the Iran nuclear issue through diplomatic means. As long as Iran agreed to suspend its uranium enrichment activities in verifiable ways, the United States will join relevant negotiations.

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