Saeed Jalili will meet with Chinese leaders over the next two days, including foreign minister Yang Jiechi, a foreign ministry spokeswoman told reporters.

"The two countries will exchange views on bilateral relations and the nuclear issue," spokeswoman Jiang Yu said.

But she declined to offer support for visiting US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte's call earlier in the day for a new UN Security Council resolution against Iran over its nuclear programme.

Negroponte, also on a visit to Beijing, said he planned to seek the support of China, a permanent Security Council member.

"On the Iranian nuclear issue, our position is consistent. We hope that Iran will abide by (an existing) UN resolution and demonstrate flexibility and work with the international community," Jiang said when asked about Negroponte's comments.

"We also hope the international community will intensify diplomatic efforts for an early resumption of negotiations," she said.

China, which has growing energy ties with Tehran, routinely calls for further talks rather than aggressive UN action against Iran.

Western powers want Iran to suspend uranium enrichment, a process they fear Tehran could use to make a nuclear weapon.

But Iran has refused, in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions, and insists its nuclear drive is peaceful.

In comments quoted by Iran's state news agency IRNA, Jalili dampened the idea of a new resolution.

"Iran's rational behaviour and international developments will not allow any one to do such things," he was quoted as saying, adding that Tehran expected continued Chinese support.

"Our Chinese friends have so far replied to Iran's 'goodwill' and we expect that they will continue these good relations."