China said on Wednesday it welcomes and attaches importance to Iran's latest stance of banning development of nuclear weapons.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei made the remarks at a daily press briefing in Beijing.

Hong said that Iran is a signatory of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. "We hope that all relevant parties can enhance talks and cooperation, increase mutual trust, and seek a comprehensive, long-term and proper solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, with progress as soon as possible."

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday that a religious decree (fatwa), issued earlier by the country's supreme leader, regarding a ban on nuclear weapons is binding for the Islamic republic, and that it is ready to register it as an "international document."

The Iranian spokesman's comments came a day before the new round of talks between Iran and a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency in Tehran.

In February 2012, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the country considers seeking and acquiring nuclear arms as a "sin."

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2013)