In response to a reporter's question at a regular press conference, Zhang said, as the UN Security Council members are now waiting for the report on the weapons inspection in Iraq from relevant agencies of the United States, no conclusions should be jumped to on the issue at this stage.

Noting that the UN weapons inspectors have inspected more than 100 sites in Iraq during over the past one month, and the inspection overall proceeded smoothly, Zhang said the Chinese side holds that the international community should let the UN inspectors continue their work in Iraq, she said.

Moreover, the spokeswoman quoted Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, who was in New York, as saying "if the UN inspectors think that more time is needed to continue their work in Iraq, the UN Security Council should respect their opinions."

(Xinhua News Agency January 21, 2003)