REMARKS BY THE SPOKESPERSON

CHINA FOREIGN MINISTRY

January 31, 2003

Q Recently, the Iraq question has escalated once again, arousing wide-ranging concerns from the international community. Would you introduce China's stand on the question of Iraq?

A Currently, the situation of Iraq has developed very quickly and entered into another important stage. Two days ago, the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency presented a report to the UN Security Council. The report said that the inspection work has generally been carried out smoothly, while more time is needed to deepen the inspection process. I think this is reasonable.

The Security Council has passed a number of resolutions on the Iraq question, which Iraq must implement conscientiously and in full.

The Iraq question should be resolved politically within the UN framework. I believe it is a consensus in the international community.

China, as one of the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council, has maintained close ties with and actively worked on various parties concerned to steer the Iraq question towards a political settlement. At this critical moment, the UN Security Council and the international community should continuously make more efforts in this regard.