Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said in Beijing Monday that the power transfer from coalition forces to the Iraqi interim government was a significant event marking the political transition process of the country.  

"We congratulate the Iraqi people on the event and hope the Iraqi interim government can, with the help of the international community including the United Nations, unite all the Iraqi people to stabilize the local situation as soon as possible, promote the Iraqi political transition process and realization of self-governance, and make concerted efforts to construct an independent, peaceful and prosperous Iraq," Zhang said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2004)