Li made the remarks during his phone conversation with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy at Passy's request.

Human beings are the most precious under heaven, and the common aspirations of the people is most important in the world, he said, referring to the Iraqi issue.

"We are willing to work with the international community and continue to call for a halt to the military operations launched by countries concerned so as to bring about a return to the path of political settlement," he said.

Li said that the first shipment of humanitarian relief supplies for the Iraqi refugees will soon be on its way to Jordan. "Additional assistance will be provided as required in the future," he added.

Li and Passy agreed that their representatives in the United Nations will maintain contact.

Passy said that Bulgaria and China have maintained good bilateral relations. Bulgaria adheres to the "one-China" policy and will continue to strengthen and develop good-neighborly and cooperative ties with China.

Li said the Chinese government will continue to attach importance to the development of bilateral ties with Bulgaria.

(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2003)