Beijing and Washington are drawing closer to each other over the Iranian nuclear crisis. That was shown by last week's agreement in Vienna, reached by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, plus Germany.
The deal also provides a test of Beijing's frequent declarations that the two countries increasingly share strategic interests.
The consensus was reached a day after Washington reversed its position not to talk to Tehran. However, Washington insisted that Iran must first agree to suspend its enrichment of uranium.
On the same day, President Hu Jintao and US President George W. Bush held a telephone conversation on the subject, in which the Chinese leader pledged to maintain the working of the international non-proliferation system. He told Mr Bush that Beijing was ready to play a constructive role in resuming negotiations as soon as possible.
The United States has been critical of China's expanding relations with countries that it considers to be 'pariah states', such as Iran, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Myanmar. Beijing's policy of friendship with those countries is largely driven by its interest in their crude oil and other natural resources.
Mr Bush is said to have cautioned his Chinese counterpart in April that countries are judged 'by the company they keep'.