Jiang and Annan stressed UN's role in Iraqi Issue
( 2002-10-15 09:10 ) (1 )

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and President Jiang Zemin stressed the role of the United Nations and its Security Council in resolving the Iraqi issue on Monday.

Annan said that Iraq should abide by related UN Security Council resolutions, accept weapons inspections and eliminate all of its weapons of mass destruction to properly resolve the issue and avoid military conflicts in the area.

Annan arrived in Beijing on Monday afternoon as part of a four-day working visit to China.

Annan began his visit on Sunday in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang Province, where he received an honorary doctorate's degree from Zhejiang University yesterday morning.

Regarding Iraq, Jiang stressed that China has always maintained that the issue should be resolved politically, noting that China supports the UN's efforts in this regard.

The UN Security Council has decided to hold an open debate on Iraq on Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan also met Annan separately yesterday. Tang said member states of the UN Security Council are stepping up their consultations in hopes of reaching a consensus on this issue so that UN inspectors can return to Iraq and carry out their mission.

The Jiang-Annan talks also touched upon other international issues. Jiang said that the unstable elements are increasing, and peace and development must remain the theme of the times.

World multipolarization and economic globalization continue to move forward, Jiang said, noting that at present and for a period of time to come, the basic posture of the international situation is: overall peace, local war; overall relaxation, local tension; and overall stability, local turbulence.

Jiang said that the United Nations has contributed to maintaining world peace and promoting co-operation over the past 50 years, noting that China expects a bigger role of the United Nations in international affairs in the new century.

Annan expressed hope that China will continue to support the United Nations and play a greater role in solving regional hot spot issues.

During talks, both sides also reached broad consensus on strengthening the UN's role, the UN reform, the Middle East issue and the Afghan question.