Chinese reaction: China's newly appointed Foreign Minister Mr Li Zhaoxing has urged the United States and Britain to solve the Iraq crisis through political means, state media reported yesterday.
During separate phone conversations with US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell and British Foreign Secretary Mr Jack Straw last night, Mr Li said China still hopes a war against Baghdad can be avoided and the issue be resolved through the United Nations, Xinhua news agency reported.
Mr Li reiterated China's stance on the Iraq situation and said the whole world was concerned about a war. The foreign minister also said both sides should be prudent in deciding whether or not to start a war.
"The common wish of the international community is for peace instead of war," he was quoted as saying. Earlier yesterday, Mr Li stressed China's position had not changed despite developments regarding Iraq.
"China's position is clear and consistent - the Iraq issue should be solved within the UN framework and in order to avoid war a political solution should be found through dialogue," he told reporters immediately after being appointed foreign minister.
"Our first task is to maintain peace in the Middle East." Mr Li, who was appointed by the ongoing National People's Congress, made no comment on US President Bush's decision to give the UN 24 hours to act to disarm Iraq. President Bush made the remark after Sunday's emergency summit between himself, British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair and Spanish Prime Minister Mr José Maria Aznar in Portugal.
His ultimatum appeared to signal an end to diplomatic efforts to avoid war with Iraq. The US government gave a further indication that conflict was imminent by asking UN inspectors to withdraw from Iraq.
Mr Li, in a telephone conversation early yesterday evening with Russian Foreign Minister Mr Igor Ivanov, also said that the Iraqi issue was at a "crucial juncture". "The Iraq issue is at the most crucial juncture of war or peace," Mr Li was quoted by Xinhua news agency as telling Mr Ivanov.
Only hours after Mr Li's comments, Xinhua also announced China was evacuating its embassy in Baghdad, with many other countries doing the same.
Ambassador Zhang Weiqiu and six embassy staff began evacuating Monday, Xinhua said, as well as journalists from the agency and state-run China Central Television. Mr Li, who took over from the outgoing Mr Tang Jiaxuan, did not say what steps his country would take if war did break out. - (AFP)