REMARKS BY THE SPOKESPERSON

CHINA FOREIGN MINISTRY

January 28, 2003

Excerpts

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Q: The UN Movic and the IAEA informed the Security Council of their weapon inspection in Iraq on 27 January. What is the comment from the Chinese side?

A: We have taken note of the assessment opinions of the UN Movic and the IAEA and the response from various sides.

China has always stood that the Iraqi question should be solved politically within the UN framework and that Iraq should implement the relevant UN resolutions in full and in real earnest.

We maintain that currently no conclusion to the weapon inspection in Iraq should be jumped to. The Security Council should respect the opinions of the two agencies and support the continued inspection to sort out questions. We also hope to see enhanced Iraq’s cooperation to the UN.

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Q: President Bush will deliver his state of union address tomorrow and it will touch upon the possible war against Iraq. Under which circumstances does the Chinese side think it legitimate to launch a war against Iraq?

A: China has always maintained that the Iraqi question should be solved through diplomatic and political means within the UN framework. Last night Beijing time, the UN Movic and the IAEA submitted a report. Though the report shows that there are still some specific questions that need to be clarified, Iraq has, on the whole, accorded cooperation to the UN weapon inspection and it is going on smoothly. We hold that the opinion of the two UN agencies should be respected and continued inspection supported so as to sort out relevant questions. On the other hand, we also hope that Iraq can continue to strengthen cooperation and coordination with the UN.

Q: If all the political efforts fail, will China support the US war against Iraq?

A: We maintain that so long as there is still one hope for political settlement of the Iraqi question, we should do our utmost to this end. China stands for political settlement of the question within the UN framework.

Q: Will China invite countries that share similar views with it on the Iraqi question to have consultation to solve the question of possible war against Iraq?

A: According to what I know, the UN Security Council will further review this question and relevant countries and members of the Security Council will also consult it.

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Q: Under which circumstance will China support the war against Iraq?

A: We have always stood for diplomatic and political settlement of all disputes in the world. On the Iraqi question, the UN has adopted over 60 resolutions and Resolution 1441 adopted not long ago is now being implemented. Relevant UN agencies have submitted a preliminary report on Iraq’s weapon and inspection and the Security Council will continue to discuss it very soon. We maintain that chance should be given to peaceful settlement of the Iraqi question to try to solve it politically within the UN framework. Only this conforms to the interest of the countries in the region and the world at large.

Q: How long does China think the UN weapon inspectors still need for their work in Iraq? Does the Chinese side think it necessary for the Security Council to adopt another resolution?

A: We think that the opinions of the two agencies should be respected and continued inspection allowed to sort out questions. As to how long it needs in specific, we are willing to listen to the opinion of the inspectors. The next move by the Security Council depends on the review of the report submitted by the two agencies and their inspection.

Q: Will Vice President Cheney visit China before the NPC meeting?

A: China and the US keeping high level exchange of visits is very important for the bilateral relations. Vice President Hu Jintao sent an invitation to Vice President Cheney last year and he will visit China in the first half of this year. The two sides are still consulting the specific time.

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