Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in Beijing Tuesday that China hopes the amendments proposed by China and some other countries to the US-British draft resolution on Iraq would be "seriously considered".

Liu said in reply to a reporter's question at a regular press conference that the Chinese foreign minister has had deep and full-ranging consultations with his relevant foreign counterparts about the issue by telephone.

China supports the UN Security Council's passage of a new resolution on the Iraq issue and welcomes proposing a draft of the resolution by the United States and Britain, Liu said.

However, Liu emphasized that concerned parties should also learn more about the attitude and views from the Iraqi side.

Liu reiterated that China supports to restore Iraq's sovereignty in various fields, including that in security, foreign policy, political and economic arenas.

Iraqi should also resume control of its natural and economic resources, Liu added.

China would continue to participate in the relevant consultations based on a serious, practical and responsible spirit, and China hopes the Security Council reach agreement on the new resolution as soon as possible, Liu noted.

China proposed major amendments to the US-British draft resolution on Iraq last Wednesday, calling for a time limit on the stay of the US-led multinational force as well as a say by Iraqis on its operation after power is transferred to a new Iraqi government on June 30.

In a three-page paper, China said that the multinational force's mandate shall expire in January 2005 in keeping with the timetable of the Iraqi political process, and its extension should have the consent of the new Iraqi government and be decided by the Security Council.

Besides security, China's paper also says that the Iraqi interim government shall exercise full sovereignty, in the political, economic, security, judicial and diplomatic areas, including the power to control and dispose of all the natural and economic resources, sign economic cooperation agreements and contracts, and enjoy judicial independence and the power to administer prisons in Iraq.

The United States and Britain introduced a draft measure on Iraq last Monday, seeking the Security Council's endorsement for the Iraqi power transfer and its authorization of the continued stay of the multinational force in Iraq after June 30.

But the text does not give a timetable for the withdrawal of the force. It only stipulates that the force's mandate would be reviewed one year later or at the request of Iraqis.

Likewise, the draft does not mention whether the new Iraqi government would have full control of its army, have a say on the multinational force's actions or have the right to sign economic contracts with foreign countries.

(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2004)