JAKARTA - Iran hopes to expand comprehensive relations with China, an Iranian deputy foreign minister said in Jakarta Thursday.

"The new atmosphere is much better than the past," Ebrahim Rahimpour told Xinhua, after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held bilateral meetings with leaders of Indonesia and Vietnam on the sidelines of the Asian-African Summit.

"For this reason, we are definitely going to expand our relations and upgrade our cooperation on regional issues especially on combating extremism and terrorism," Rahimpour said.

He added that peace and security are important for the welfare of people and economic development.

"There is necessity for all nations to cooperate in combating terrorism and extremism."

Rahimpour also thanked China for approving Iran as a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, saying "it is very important" for his country.

This year's Asian-African Conference under the theme "Strengthening South-South Cooperation to Promote World Peace and Prosperity" drew leaders and delegates from some 100 Asian and African nations, 15 observer countries and 17 international organizations.