Beijing: China and Russia on February 27 jointly opposed a second UN resolution on
Iraq and called for continued weapons inspections and a political and diplomatic
solution to the vexed issue.
"The two sides maintain that the priority is to implement UN Resolution 1441,
unanimously adopted by all members of the UN Security Council," Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesman Kong Quan told reporters while briefing on the meeting between
Chinese Foreign minister Tang Jiaxuan and his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov.
"The two sides advocate to resolve the Iraqi crisis through political and diplomatic
means," he said, adding the two sides stressed that 1441 resolution and other
resolutions on Iraq provide the necessary legal basis for tackling the Iraqi issue.
He noted that the two sides have issued a joint press communique, stating that UN
weapons inspections should continue in Iraq as authorised by 1441 and their work is
making progress.
"Under the circumstances, the UNSC should enhance guidance over weapon inspections
and support the inspection work," he said.
China and Russia have agreed that war against Iraq "can and should be avoided," he
quoted the communique as saying.
"Both sides reiterate their determination to render their full efforts for promoting
a political solution to the Iraqi issue," the communique said, adding that the
international community has widely called for taking all measures to avoid war, and
such aspiration should be respected.
At the same time, Kong stressed that Tang and Ivanov stressed Iraq must
disarm fully and completely and renounce its weapons of mass destruction.
"Iraq should implement the UN resolutions fully, strictly and consciously.
Iraq should not possess weapons of mass destruction and the Iraqi side
should fully see the urgency and importance of inspections," the spokesman
said.
The joint press communique also points out that the UNSC shoulders important
responsibility to safeguard world peace and stability and that the UN
principles should be upheld.
Meanwhile, Ivanov, who arrived in Beijing on February 26 night for talks
with Chinese leadership, also met with the new general secretary of the
ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) and exchanged views on bilateral,
regional and international issues of common concern, Kong said.
On Iraq crisis, Hu, also China's Vice-President, said all-out efforts should
be made to avoid war, from the perspective of maintaining regional and world
peace and development and humanitarian considerations.
On Sino-Russian ties, Hu noted that since Russian President Vladimir Putin's
successful visit to China in December last year, bilateral relations have
been further boosted.
Ivanov agreed with Hu's comments on bilateral relations, saying, "Russia's
good-neighbourly policy towards China is a strategic and historical choice,
and will be continued."
PTI
