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In a telephone conversation with his British counterpart Jack Straw on Monday, Chinese foreign minister Li Zhaoxing again called for an end to the Iraq war as soon as possible and efforts at resolving the crisis politically.
Jack Straw briefed Li Zhaoxing on the meeting of British and US leaders at Camp David, and said that his country hopes the United Nations will play a key role in post-war arrangements of Iraq.
Li Zhaoxing said China is extremely worried about the situation in Iraq. The war has caused a large number of civilian victims and led to humanitarian problems. It has also added to instability in the Gulf region and harmed economic development in other parts of the world.
He said the UN's decision to adjust the "oil for food" plan was an active move to meet the urgent humanitarian needs in Iraq.
He stressed that the UN is crucial to solving the Iraqi issue properly, saying China is willing to join hands with the international community to maintain the UN's authority in international issues.
"A proper settlement of the Iraq issue is eventually inseparable from the United Nations, and China will join the international community in safeguarding the UN's role in international affairs and the authority of the UN Security Council," Li said.
The two foreign ministers also exchanged opinions on the DPRK nuclear issue and the situation between India and Pakistan.
(Xinhua News Agency April 1, 2003)
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