It is a "good option" to solve the Iranian nuclear dispute through diplomatic means, the Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Kong Quan told a regular press conference yesterday.

Kong urged all parties concerned to exercise restraint, be patient and try their utmost to resume talks.

"We hope Iran can cooperate with the international community to restart diplomatic negotiations, and resolve the nuclear issue," he said.

Iran removed the UN seals at its Natanz nuclear research facility last Tuesday, sparking international condemnation.

China, together with the UK, France, Germany, the US and Russia, held a meeting on Monday in London to unofficially discuss the nuclear situation in Iran.

"This was an important meeting," Kong said, adding that all parties involved were concerned about Iran's resumption of nuclear research.

All parties concerned expressed the wish that they are willing to work for resolving the nuclear standoff through diplomatic means. The international community has sent a clear message to Iran: it should resume diplomatic talks and solve the nuclear crisis properly by cooperating with the international community.

Kong said Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz will visit Beijing from January 22 to 24 at the invitation of President Hu Jintao.

Describing the king's visit as "very important," Kong said it will be his first trip to China since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1990.

Further, it will be the first official visit that the king has made to another country since he ascended the throne, Kong said.

During his visit, the king will meet with President Hu to discuss the development of bilateral relations over the past 15 years, and exchange views on further expanding bilateral cooperation in all fields, Kong said.

He said they will also discuss bilateral cooperation in the field of energy resources. But it is not yet clear whether any agreements to this end will be signed.

According to Kong, trade between China and Saudi Arabia has been growing rapidly in recent years, with trade jumping 59 percent year-on-year to US$14.5 billion in the first 11 months of 2005. Kong described this as an "astonishing growth" since it is far higher than the national average of 23 percent.

China imported 20.01 million tons of crude oil from Saudi Arabia from January to November last year, Kong said. Cooperation and exchanges between the two countries in such fields as culture, public health, science, technology and telecommunications are also active, he said.

Kong announced Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan will attend the 2006 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, from January 25 to 29.

Zeng will deliver a special speech at the meeting, introducing China's policies and measures on its economic and social development, Kong said. The Chinese delegation will also attend some special meetings at the forum.

With the theme of "Creative Imperative," the annual meeting will discuss such issues as the world economic situation and employment.

In other developments, Jean Asselborn, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and immigration of Luxembourg, will visit China from January 22 to 24.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Public Service of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Frederick Mitchell will visit from January 19 to 22.

At the invitation of the Bolivian government, Minister of Justice Wu Aiying as China's special envoy is to attend the power handover ceremony of the presidency of Bolivia to be held in La Paz on January 22.

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily January 18, 2006)