Tang on hotline over Iraq
( 2002-11-07 00:28 ) (1 )

Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said Wednesday China hoped to see the ongoing consultation in the United Nations Security Council lead to a peaceful political solution to the Iraq issue as soon as possible.

Tang also expressed China's readiness to play a constructive role in the consultation by taking advantage of its rotating chairmanship at the top UN decision-making body this month.

In a bout of phone diplomacy Wednesday, Tang exchanged views on Iraq with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, United States Secretary of State Colin Powell, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin.

Tang said China hoped that all sides involved in the consultation could adopt a flexible and co-operative stance to reach a consensus.

He said he hoped such an accord could pave the way to setting an early date for the return of UN weapon inspectors to Iraq.

Annan highly praised the significant role that China is playing in the Iraq issue as both a permanent member of the Security Council and the rotating president this month.

According to a news release issued Wednesday by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Annan and the senior diplomats expressed their willingness to seek an agreement as soon as possible on the Iraq issue at the Security Council through close consultation and co-ordination.