Senior Israeli officials are in Beijing for talks with Chinese leaders. High on the agenda is expected to be China's reluctance to support United Nations sanctions against Iran.
Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon is in Beijing for high-level talks with Chinese state councilor Dai Binggou.
Although both countries have been keen to stress the visit is to discuss a range of bilateral issues, it is widely believed Ya'alon will be eager to seek China's support for sanctions against Iran in the U.N. Security Council.
As a veto-wielding member of the Security Council, China's backing is vital to push through tougher sanctions against Tehran because of its controversial nuclear program.
But with vital oil interests in the country and as an ally of Iran, Beijing has been opposed to such moves.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang refused to go into detail about the nature of the talks and says Beijing still believes dialogue was the way forward for Iran.
He says China still believes there is still room for diplomacy. He says he hope all parties involved will work toward a peaceful resolution.
He says China will keep in contact with the countries seeking sanctions, U.S., Britain, France, Germany and Russia, to ease the current tensions.