FNA- Iranian Supreme Leader's top aide for international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati praised the Chinese government's position on Syria and West Asia, and said Tehran counts on Beijing's support on the Syrian issue at international levels.

"We count on China's international support for the Syrian government and nation's cause and goals," Velayati said in a meeting with China's Special Envoy to Syria Xie Xiaoyan in Tehran on Saturday.

"Cooperation on Syria creates abundant potentials for mutual cooperation," he added.

Velayati described relations between Iran and China as very age-old and strategic, and said, "It is natural that Iran and China exchange views on bilateral, regional and international issues."

He called for the further expansion of cooperation and ties between the two countries.

China has several times vetoed the Western-proposed draft United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions against the Syrian government.

Earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the turmoil in Syria has brought a lot of suffering to its people and grave challenges to regional and world peace.

"China's position on the Syrian issue has been consistent," Xi said, adding that "Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be protected and respected, and its future decided by its own people."

"A political solution offers the only way out," the Chinese president underlined.