On the morning of February 28, 2003, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan held phone conversations with Canadian Foreign Minister William Graham and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi respectively upon request, during which they mainly exchanged views on the Iraqi issue and on the nuclear issue in the DPRK.

Tang pointed out that weapons inspections in Iraq by the United Nations are effective and should continue. Iraq must cooperate more actively and fully with the two inspection organizations. He stressed that war would sabotage peace and stability in the Gulf region and the world at large, lead to serious humanitarian crises and exert negative impacts on the global economy, adding that all-out efforts should be made to avoid war and to resolve the issue politically within the framework of the United Nations.

On the nuclear issue in the DPRK, Tang said China has always stood for safeguarding peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, a nuclear-free peninsula and a peaceful solution of the issue through dialogue. China keeps an open mind towards any suggestion that is conducive to stability on the peninsula and that can facilitate a peaceful solution of the nuclear issue in the DPRK. Currently, it is most important for the United States and the DPRK to start talks as soon as possible.