Beijing: China on March 9 categorically told Britain that it will not support the
use of force against Iraq and restated the stand that a political solution should be
found on the vexed issue under the UN framework.
"The world is facing many problems, and they cannot be solved simply by force. War
is of no good to all sides," President Jiang Zemin on March 9 told British Prime
Minister Tony Blair, who called him up as a last ditch attempt to win over China, a
veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Jiang said the UN Security Council heard new reports on the weapons inspection from
the two inspection organs on March 7, which showed the inspection process has
made "progress", the official Xinhua news agency reported.
He said it is possible to solve the Iraq issue politically within the framework of
the United Nations, provided the weapons inspection is continued and strengthened.
"To solve the problem by political means may take more time, but it would
cost less and accord with the best interests of all parties," the Chinese
President added.
According to sources with the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Blair briefed Jiang
the British government's current stance on the issue.
Blair said it has been nearly four months since the UN Security Council
adopted resolution 1441, and there is not sufficient evidence of Iraq's
willingness to fully co-operate with the United Nations.
"Iraq has missed the last chance and the United Nations should take further
measures," Blair was quoted as telling Jiang.
Jiang said he would welcome Blair on his planned visit to China in April,
the report said.
The talks between Jiang and Blair is the first since the Iraq issue divided
the UN Security Council on the next step on disarming Baghdad of its alleged
weapons of mass destruction.
China has rejected the second draft resolution on Iraq presented by US, UK
and Spain, saying the first resolution, 1441 has not yet been implemented
fully.
Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, currently in New York to attend key
meetings on Iraq, has also called for continued UN weapons inspections in
Iraq as proposed by France, Germany and Russia.
PTI
