In a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov, Li said only the settlement of the Iraq issue within the UN framework and on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions would be conducive to long-term peace and stability in the region.

A news release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs quoted Li as saying the Iraq war has brought serious problems and concrete action should be taken to ease the humanitarian situation in Iraq.

He said China is ready to provide further humanitarian assistance.

Ivanov replied by stressing the UN should play a leading role in the reconstruction in Iraq.

Meanwhile, Liu Mingzu, head of the Chinese delegation to the Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Santiago, said on Monday local time that the war in Iraq will not benefit any party and there will be no solution without the intervention of the UN.

A Xinhua report quoted Liu as stressing the role of the UN in post-war arrangement and reconstruction.

He also said countries should resolve their disputes through dialogue and cooperation rather than resorting to force or the threat of force.

(China Daily April 9, 2003)