Chinese FM makes int'l calls on Iraq issue
( 2002-11-07 11:03 ) (8 )

Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan on Wednesday held telephone talks respectively with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin to gauge views on the Iraq issue.

Tang said China hoped that the UN Security Council's consultations would yield results as soon as possible.

As the Security Council's rotating chairman in November, China was ready to play a constructive role, while at the same time encouraging all parties to take a flexible and cooperative attitude and reach a consensus through thorough negotiation.

Tang said that by doing so, the UN weapons inspectors could return to Iraq and begin effective work at an early date so that the problem could be solved politically as soon as possible.

Annan and the foreign ministers highly commended the important role China had played as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the rotating chairman, all pledging their willingness to reach an early consensus through close consultations and coordination.