In a meeting with Iran’s visiting Vice-President Parviz Davoudi, Jiabao predicted that the financial crisis would result in structural changes worldwide.

He said that Beijing considered relations with Iran as being long-term and strategic. “The Tehran-Beijing relations can expand in different fields regarding ongoing global conditions,” added the Chinese official.

He went on to say that Iran and China could play an influential role in betterment of global conditions.

Also on Iran’s nuclear issue, the Chinese Prime Minister said access to peaceful nuclear technology was Iran’s internationally distinguished right.

“The nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation should be safeguarded and promoted worldwide,” he added.

Davoudi is here to attend the 2009 meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) scheduled for April