Jiang in Tehran for talks

Jiang: Highest-ranking Chinese visitor for over 20 years

Chinese President Jiang Zemin - who is visiting Iran - is due to meet President Khatami in Tehran on Saturday.

The talks are expected to focus on Afghanistan, as well as political and economic ties.

Mr Jiang is the first Chinese president to go to Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

His visit is considered by some Iranian officials to be a turning-point in relations between the two countries.

The BBC's Jim Muir in the Iranian capital says the fact that Mr Jiang is visiting at a time when Washington has branded Tehran part of an axis of evil carries a clear political message that is deeply appreciated in Iran.

Furthering ties

Washington has been pressing Beijing to stop sales of arms and weapons technology to countries like Iran, but without success.

The Chinese have also made it clear that, while they supported the first phase of the Americans' war against terror, they do not want to see it going further

Both China and Iran have expressed concern about growing US influence in central Asia

It is not anticipated that any new deals will be signed during the visit.

But the sides will examine ways of further developing an already rapidly growing economic relationship.

The volume of trade between the two countries has doubled in three years, with Iran mainly exporting oil and its derivatives and the Chinese selling industrial technology.

They are already deeply involved in major civil engineering projects here such as dams, power plants, roads and subway systems - and are looking for more.

President Jiang's visit to Tehran is the final leg of a five-nation tour which has taken him to Germany, Nigeria, Libya and Tunisia.