Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing exchanged views Saturday evening with his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov over telephone on bilateral ties, the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) nuclear issue and the Iraq issue.

The two ministers agreed to make joint efforts and conscientious preparations to ensure that the positive outcome would be attained in Chinese President Hu Jintao's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the imminent Informal Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting.

The Beijing six-party talks on the DPRK nuclear issue is conducive, and an important step toward the issue's peaceful resolution through dialogue, Li said, acknowledging that China will send Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Russia for an exchange of views on this issue Sunday.

Ivanov gave a high appraisal of the Beijing six-party talks and expressed his support for the talks' continuous progress.

On the Iraq issue, Ivanov stressed that the United Nations should play a key role in resolving the issue and restoring Iraq's sovereignty as soon as possible.

Li noted that China is willing to maintain contact with the Russian side and prompt the UN Security Council to reach consensus on the Iraq issue and safeguard the council's authority.

China will send Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang to Madrid to attend an international conference on Iraq's reconstruction, the Chinese foreign minister said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2003)