NEW TAIPEI, Taiwan, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Taiwan's Foxconn

would consider taking a stake in Nissan ( NSANF ) for

cooperation, its chairman said, as the Japanese automaker's

future hangs in the balance after stepping back from merger

talks with Honda ( HMC ).

"If cooperation requires it (purchasing Nissan ( NSANF ) shares), we

will consider it," Foxconn chairman Young Liu told reporters on

Wednesday in the company's first public comments about its talks

with Nissan ( NSANF ).

"But purchasing its shares is not our aim; our aim is

cooperation," he said, adding it was talking about cooperation

with Nissan's ( NSANF ) biggest shareholder Renault, which owns

36% of the Japanese firm.

Struggling Nissan ( NSANF ) is again at a crossroads after sources

said last week that negotiations with bigger rival Honda ( HMC )

to create the world's No. 4 automaker had been

complicated by growing differences.

Nissan ( NSANF ) and Honda ( HMC ) are expected to lay out a new stage in

their uncertain relationship on Thursday, one that is likely to

see them formally call off a plan to merge after talks between

the two foundered last week, according to sources.

The deal would have been the latest change in a car industry

facing a huge threat from China's BYD and other

electric vehicle entrants.

Nissan ( NSANF ) is open to working with new partners such as Taiwan's

Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics maker and

Apple's main iPhone maker, the sources said last week.

Nissan ( NSANF ) and Renault declined to comment on Liu's remarks.

While Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics

manufacturer, is best known for its role as an Apple supplier,

it also has ambitions in the electric vehicle sector as it seeks

to diversify its business.

Liu said Foxconn would not get into being an auto

"brand" and would only provide commissioned design and

manufacturing services.