On April 8, 2003, Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing held a phone conversation with his Russian
counterpart Igor Ivanov. They exchanged views on the Iraqi
issue and on the nuclear issue in the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea over the phone.
Li said the
war against Iraq has created many serious problems, and most
members of the international community have called for it to
cease. At the same time, Li suggested, all sides should lose
no time and take concrete measures to alleviate the
humanitarian situation in Iraq. China is preparing to send
more aid to Iraq. Only a resolution of the Iraqi issue
within the UN framework on the basis of the Security Council
resolutions will benefit regional peace and stability. On
the DPRK nuclear issue, Li said the achievement of a
nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and the maintenance of
regional peace and stability conform to the interests of all
sides. The most important thing is to commence the dialogue
and resolve relevant problems
peacefully.
Ivanov informed Li about the recent
contacts that Russia has made with relevant countries on the
above issues. He stressed that the United Nations should
play a leading role in the post-war reconstruction of Iraq,
adding that Russia supports the stance that the DPRK nuclear
issue be resolved peacefully through dialogue.
|