On the morning of May 9, 2003, Foreign Minister
Li
Zhaoxing held a Phone Conversation With US
Secretary of State Colin Powell by
request.
Powell briefed Li on a draft
resolution on the Iraqi issue that the United States will
submit to the United Nations Security Council on May 10. He
said that The United States hoped the international
community would lift the sanctions on Iraq as soon as
possible. Li stressed that it was the common wish
of the international community to bring the important role
of the United Nations to full play on the post-war
arrangements and reconstruction of Iraq and to maintain the
credibility and authority of the UN Security Council, which
was also important basis for the comprehensive and proper
resolution of the Iraqi issue. He said that China was
willing to maintain contacts with the United States and
other members of the UN Security Council on the
issue.
Powell expressed gratitude for China's
efforts in facilitating the talks in Beijing on the nuclear
issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
He said that the Beijing meeting had been helpful and the
United States was studying the results of the meeting and
was willing to maintain contacts with China and other
related countries. Li explained China's stance on the DPRK
nuclear issue, saying that the Beijing meeting was a good
start for the peaceful resolution of the DPRK nuclear issue
and the process should continue. He said that China was
willing to promote the peaceful resolution of the issue at
an earlier date with joint efforts of all
sides.
Li also briefed Powell on China's
nationwide fight against SARS and exchanges and cooperation
between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits in containing
the disease. Powell said that, just as President Bush told
President Hu Jintao in a recent telephone conversation, the
United States was paying close attention to China's
tremendous efforts in combating the disease and would do
what it could to provide assistance.
(from
www.fmprc.gov.cn)