China hopes the United Nations Security Council can reach a consensus on a resolution to establish peace and stability in Iraq as soon as possible, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing Thursday.

Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, with his counterparts from the other four permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, would attend a special meeting on Iraq in Geneva on Sept.13, which was advocated by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

The UN Security Council was holding discussions on a new resolution on Iraq raised by the United States. As the humanitarian situation in Iraq is quite unstable and Iraqi parties concerned are facing a lot of difficulties at home, China holds that the Iraq issue needs a new resolution, which should be favorable to maintaining the safety situation in Iraq, resuming the sovereignty of Iraq and speeding up the reconstruction in Iraq.

He said the role of the UN was important and indispensable to the Iraq issue, a view shared by all parties.

All parties were still exchanging views on the resolution and issues concerned, and the United States had expressed its willingness to continue discussions. China was seriously studying the resolution and would support suggestions from France, Germany and Russia.

The Chinese side would continue to participate in consultations with a positive and constructive attitude, hoping all parties could exchange in-depth views in a cooperative spirit to reach consensus as soon as possible, Kong said.

He said the resolution included a request for other nations to send armed forces to Iraq.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2003)