Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) meets with Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani in Doha January 18, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

DOHA - Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met here Wednesday with Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani over bilateral relations and international affairs.

Qatar is an important country in the Gulf region with mounting economic strength and international influence, said Wen, who arrived here earlier in the day for an official visit.

Wen noted that the relations between China and Qatar are becoming increasingly close and that the two sides have carried out fruitful exchanges and cooperation in such fields as politics, economy and culture.

Beijing, he said, is willing to work with Qatar to lift the bilateral relationship to higher levels through strategic and long-term approaches.

In the energy sector, China and Qatar should take full advantage of their respective strengths in market and resources and enlarge trade of oil and gas products and cooperation in downstream industries, he said.

Meanwhile, the two countries should make full use of their bilateral investment and cooperation mechanism to facilitate mutual investment in key and advantageous areas, he added.

China, Wen said, is ready to explore together with Qatar ways to expand bilateral cooperation in such fields as infrastructure, finance, medical care, aviation and tourism and thus diversify their economic and trade relations.

As regards Iran, Wen said that against the backdrop of the current complicated situation across the region, it serves the interests of all parties concerned to ease the tensions as soon as possible.

China's position is to safeguard the nuclear non-proliferation regime, oppose Iran developing and possessing nuclear weapons, and support the creation of a nuclear-free Middle East, the premier said.

China hopes that the Iran issue could be settled peacefully through political means, he said, adding that Beijing is ready to work together with other parties to resume the related talks and that the international community should play a constructive role.

With regard to Syria, Wen said China urges all relevant parties in the country to halt violence immediately and seek solutions through dialogues and negotiations.

Beijing hopes that the mediation efforts by the Arab League will succeed and that the bloc's monitors will continue their investigation in an objective and fair manner, he added.

The international community should play an active and constructive role in the Syria issue, the Chinese premier said.

The Qatari prime minister, for his part, said that China is an important cooperation partner of Qatar, that the relationship between the two countries is long-lasting and strategic, and that their cooperation has a great prospect.

Qatar will abide by the various cooperation agreements reached with China, and is committed to expanding its cooperation with China under bilateral and multilateral frameworks, he added.

After briefing Wen on Qatar's stances on the regional situation, he noted that China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has considerable influence on global and regional affairs.

Qatar is willing to promote communication and coordination with China and make joint efforts in safeguarding regional peace and stability, he said.

Following their talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of several documents on bilateral cooperation.