Following is the full text of the joint press communiqué:

Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China Tang Jiaxuan and Russian Federation Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov had in-depth discussions on the Iraq issue and reached wide consensus on Feb. 27.

The two sides expressed deep concern over the tension created by the Iraq issue.

The two sides advocate the Iraq crisis be resolved within the framework of the United Nations and through political and diplomatic means.

The UN Security Council resolution No. 1441, unanimously passed by the UN Security Council on Nov. 8, 2002, and other relevant resolutions have provided the necessary legal basis for handling the issue.

China and Russia believe that inspections by the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency are playing an important role and have already made some progress, so the inspections should continue. The UN Security Council should intensify its guidance and support the inspection work.

The two sides stress that Iraq should wholly, accurately and sincerely implement all the related UN Security Council resolutions, and possess no weapons of mass destruction and relevant delivery devices. Iraq should fully comprehend the importance and urgency of the inspections, make utmost efforts to improve cooperation with the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency and provide more active and concrete cooperation with inspectors, to create the necessary conditions for politically resolving the Iraq issue.

The two sides reiterate their determination to try their utmost to promote a political solution to the Iraq issue and believe war can and should be avoided. The international community has widely urged all steps be taken to avoid war. Such aspirations should be respected.

The two sides believe the UN Security Council shoulders the major responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, should observe principles set forth in the UN Charter and continue to play a key role in tackling the Iraq issue. All the UN member states should respect and safeguard the authority of the UN Security Council.

The two sides are determined to keep in close contact and cooperate in pushing forward a political solution to the Iraq issue on the basis of the principles of the UN Charter.

(Xinhua News Agency February 27, 2003)