US vice President Joe Biden stressed the urgency of dealing with Iran's nuclear challenge in a meeting with China's chief legislator, Wu Bangguo, the White House said Friday.

Wu met Biden for an in-depth talk, then his visitor had a short conversation with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office, during his visit to the White House on Thursday.

"The vice President stressed the urgency of addressing the Iranian nuclear programme," the White House said in a statement.

US Vice President Joe Biden stressed the urgency of dealing with Iran's nuclear challenge in a meeting with China's chief legislator, Wu Bangguo, seen here on September 2, 2009, the White House said Friday. (AFP/File/Adalberto Roque)

The meeting came at a time of rising tensions over Iran's nuclear drive, as senior figures in Tehran warned Friday that they would not give up on their right to nuclear power.

China, as a veto-wielding permanent member of the United Nations Security Council would play a crucial role in any effort by world powers to impose crippling sanctions on Iran over the nuclear programme.

Biden and Wu, the second most powerful man in China's ruling Communist Party after President Hu Jintao, discussed US-China relations in general, and other global issues including North Korea's nuclear challenge and nuclear security.

"After the meeting, the President escorted Chair Wu to the Oval Office for a brief discussion," the statement said.

"He talked to Chair Wu about the importance of the US-China relationship, the international financial crisis, and the need for greater coordination in facing the challenges posed by climate change."

Obama has said he will travel to China before the end of this year to meet Hu.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090911/pl_afp/uschinairannuclear_20090911201443