Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan told his Iraqi counterpart Naji Sabri yesterday that China believes using force, or threats of using force, is unhelpful in solving the Iraq issue, and will increase regional instability and tensions. Sabri is on an official visit to China, and met Tang in Peking.
The Iraqi issue should be solved by political and diplomatic means within the framework of the UN, Tang told the Iraqi Foreign Minister. He added that as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China, along with the international community, would play a positive role in easing the situation.
Tang said China had always been concerned by the Iraq issue and was making unremitting efforts to urge the international community to lift sanctions against Iraq soon. The sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Iraq should also be respected, the Chinese Foreign Minister added.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Sabri briefed Tang on the latest developments and on the position of the Iraqi government, as well as on the dialogue between Iraq and the UN. He said there had been some progress in talks between Iraq and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and the two sides had built initial trust. Iraq was ready to cooperate with the UN for a complete solution to the Iraqi issue, Sabri added.
Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan’s comments to his Iraqi counterpart were publicly reported by the official Chinese news agency. Mr. Sabri expressed his appreciation of China's just stance on the issue. The Iraqi Foreign Minister arrived in China Monday morning for a three-day official visit in reply to an invitation by Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan (www.albawbaa.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
