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Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said Thursday China has stood for a peaceful settlement of the Iraq issue and regarded as unnecessary a new resolution by the United Nations Security Council, especially one that implies authorization of the use of force.
Speaking to Chinese reporters upon his arrival here, Tang said he came to New York to convey the wish of millions of Chinese people for peace.
He said that while differences remained among various parties on how to solve the Iraqi crisis, the majority of countries in the world stand for a political solution and the opposition to war is prevailing.
Tang expressed China's consent and support for the joint statement issued by France, Russia and Germany on Wednesday and its persistent stand that the international community should do everything possible to avert war and make the utmost efforts for apolitical settlement of the issue.
He listed three top priorities for future efforts to solve the crisis, namely, to continue weapons inspections in Iraq to clarify existing questions for comprehensive implementation of UN Resolution 1441, to urge Iraq for substantive cooperation in a more pro-active manner, and stress the important role of the United Nations and uphold the unity and authority of the Security Council.
Tang came here for the Security Council meeting on Iraq issue scheduled for Friday. Eleven council member states had reportedly sent their foreign ministers to the meeting.
(People?s Daily March 7, 2003)
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