Wang Yingfan, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, on Wednesday voiced his welcome and support to the upcoming dialogue between UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri.
Wang expressed his hope that the dialogue will pave the way for the proper and comprehensive settlement of the Iraq issue.
In his meeting with Annan here on Wednesday morning, Wang said that the Chinese Government consistently holds that the question of Iraq should be solved on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions in a fair and just manner at an early date.
Iraq should implement the relevant Security Council resolutions and resume the cooperation with the United Nations on the weapons inspection as soon as possible, he said.
Meanwhile, the international community should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and take into account the reasonable concerns from the Iraqi side, he said.
China opposes terrorism in all its forms, and is against wanton expansion of anti-terrorism war without solid evidence, he said.
Wang said that he appreciates Annan's opposition to willfully military strikes on Iraq, and stressed that China hopes to see the peaceful solution of the Iraq issue by political and diplomatic means.
Annan is scheduled to start his dialogue with the Iraqi foreign minister on Thursday, and the talks are expected to last about three hours and a half, a UN spokesman said Tuesday.
(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2002)
