There is no need to make any hasty conclusions on the report Iraq presented to the United Nations on its weapons of mass destruction, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said Friday.
Tang said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua that China supported the UN Security Council as it began Thursday to examine the report and listen to the opinions of all relevant parties.
He said it is the due task of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect Iraq's weapons and report to the Security Council.
The Chinese side believes the two institutions are fully capable of assessing Iraq's report through on-site inspections, Tang said.
Tang said UN Security Council Resolution 1441 and other resolutions concerning the Iraqi issue must be fully and earnestly implemented. He said China has always advocated a political resolution of the issue within the framework of the United Nationsas the universal view of the international community.
China welcomes Iraq's presentation of the report, Tang said, and China will organize a large number of experts to conduct an initial study of its content.
He said since the report covers a wide scope and a long period and involves complicated content, China needs a further study.
(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2002)
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