China will observe procedure, chair consultations with a fair and just attitude, listen to opinions from all sides, increase transparency, and solve agenda issues through thorough negotiations while chairing the United Nations Security Council this month.
Foreign Ministry spokes-man Kong Quan made the remarks in Beijing yesterday at a regular press conference in response to a question on what role China would play when acting as the rotating chairman of the Security Council this month.
Kong said the Security Council faces onerous tasks this month, and major work is required to continue deliberating the Iraq issue.
"As chairman, China will maintain close contacts with all parties and promote consensus among the members through consultations, so that the U.N. nuclear weapon inspectors can return to Iraq and begin their work and the issue be solved politically at an early date," he said.
According to the spokes-man, deliberations on other issues, such as hot spots in Africa, sanctions, the Middle East and Afghanistan, are also listed on the agenda of the Security Council this month.
Kong announced that China's special envoy on the Middle East issue, Ambassador Wang Shijie, left Beijing yesterday for the area.
Wang, during his first trip as special envoy, will visit Israel, Palestine and some other Middle Eastern countries, Kong said.
The envoy will strive for extensive and in-depth connections with different Middle East parties and exchange views with them on the Middle East situation, especially the long-time impasse of the peace process, Kong said.
The envoy will express China's concern over the ongoing deadlock in the Middle East peace process, and make efforts for progress in this regard, Kong said.
(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2002)
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