Both Beijing and Moscow oppose the use of force and threats to use force on Teheran, according to a joint statement released on Wednesday.

The two countries also refused to step up pressure or impose more sanctions on Iran.

China and Russia called for a peaceful resolution to Iran's nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiations.

Both sides also emphasized that efforts should be made to avoid escalating tension and warned that if a confrontation occurred the region and the whole international society would suffer since Afghanistan, West Asia and North Africa are undergoing a turbulent period.

The joint statement was issued during Russian President Vladimir Putin's three-day state visit to China. Putin also came for the 12th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which lasts from Wednesday to Thursday.

On Tuesday night, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Beijing to visit China and attend the SCO summit.

The SCO was founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001, and currently has six full members - China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan and India are four observer states.