On the afternoon of May 11, Chinese Foreign Minister
Li Zhaoxing had a phone conversation with British Foreign
Secretary Jack Straw, during which the two ministers
exchanged views on issues including Iraq, the Mideast and
the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea (DPRK).
On the Iraq issue, Straw said
that a government elected by the Iraqi people should be
established as soon as possible, and the United Nations
should play a role to this end. Li said the international
community shares the common wish that Iraq's post-war
arrangements and reconstruction should be resolved within
the UN framework. The Chinese side holds that related
arrangements should be conducive to the long-term interests
of the Iraqi people and to lasting peace and stability in
the Mideast and the Gulf region. China remains open to any
proposals that would facilitate the realization of the
above-mentioned goals.
On the Mideast issue,
Straw said that the "Road Map" peace plan
constitutes a good opportunity for the Mideast peace
process, and the international community should continue
urging the parties concerned, including Palestine and
Israel, to take active and constructive steps to push
forward this process. Li said China welcomes the unveiling
of the "Road Map" for Mideast peace and hopes that
Israel and Palestine would seize the current favorable
opportunity and cooperate with the international community's
efforts to ensure the resumption of peace talks as soon as
possible. China is ready to cooperate with the international
community, including the British side, to push for a
settlement of the Mideast issue. China's special envoy, Wang
Shijie, will visit the Mideast again in the near future.
Straw spoke highly of the Beijing talks on the
DPRK nuclear issue held between China, the United States and
the DPRK. Li reiterated that the DPRK nuclear issue
should be resolved peacefully through dialogue. He said
there are still many uncertain factors regarding this issue
at present, however, talks are better than no talks. He said
the key is that the parties concerned must have the
political will to resolve this issue, keep the momentum for
dialogue and avoid any moves that could lead to an
escalation of the situation so as to keep the Beijing talks
process going to facilitate the realization of the
non-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and peace and
stability in the region.
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