China said Tuesday it was growing more concerned over the Iran nuclear crisis but again resisted calls to back sanctions, insisting talks were the best way to resolve the impasse.

Visiting British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who is seeking Beijing's support for tougher UN sanctions against Iran, voiced his increasing impatience with the Islamic Republic.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi pledged after talks with Miliband that Beijing would work more closely with other world powers on Iran, which is suspected by the West of secretly trying to develop the atomic bomb.

"Regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, I wish to point out that this issue is the subject of widespread attention in the international community. China has become more concerned about the current situation," Yang told reporters.

Miliband, who met later with Premier Wen Jiabao, had tough words for Tehran, noting an increasing "lack of confidence in the international community as to Iranian intentions".

He said Iran "can be treated as a normal country on nuclear matters when they behave as a normal country.”

But Yang gave no sign that China would bend to mounting pressure to support a new round of sanctions on Tehran, which insists its nuclear program is for peaceful energy needs.

"Ultimately, this issue has to be appropriately resolved through peaceful negotiations," Yang said.

Britain, alongside the United States and its allies, is pushing for the UN Security Council to impose tougher sanctions but China is the only veto-wielding permanent member not backing further punitive action.

-AFP/NOW Lebanon