China considers it necessary to send a multinational force to Iraq, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman in Beijing Thursday.  

Liu Jianchao told a regular press briefing that China supports the United Nations (UN) Security Council to adopt a new resolution on Iraq, which would require sending a multinational force.

However, the force's mandate and timetable should be clearly stipulated in the new resolution, and the voices from Iraq should also be heard, Liu said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2004)