Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing exchanged views with US Secretary of State Colin Powell over telephone Sunday morning on the Iraq issue.

Li and Powell discussed on telephone the continuing volatile situation in Iraq, with the former saying the United Nations (UN) must "help the country regain sovereignty as early as possible."

Powell briefed Li about the recent developments on a draft resolution on Iraq put forward to the UN Security Council by the US.

Li said it is necessary for the UN to pass a new resolution and help restore sovereignty to the Middle East nation as early as possible.

The resolution should give the UN a bigger role in Iraq. China expects the relevant parties to narrow their differences and reach a consensus in the near future.

(Source: China Daily October 13, 2003)