Beijing: China on January 9 said the next move on the Iraq issue should be decided by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the basis of opinions from all parties.

"Iraq was generally cooperative after the UNSC adopted Resolution 1441," Chinese President Jiang Zemin told the French Foreign Minister Dominique De Villepin, who called on him in Beijing.

Jiang noted that at present the weapons inspection in Iraq should be continued to clarify the issue and the work of UN inspectors should be supported, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

On the North Korean nuclear issue, Jiang said China supported the non-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, upholding its peace and stability, and advocated a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue.

China and France are both veto-wielding members of the UNSC.

Villepin said the French side held great store by France-China relations and it was more imperative for the two countries to strengthen consultation and coordination when the current international situation was undergoing drastic changes.

PTI