Speaking to Chinese reporters upon his arrival in New York, he said his second trip in 10 days to New York for the United Nations Security Council meeting on Iraq is aimed at promoting such a political settlement of the issue.

Tang said that Chinese leaders, who have lately maintained close telephone contact with leaders of the United States, France and other countries, have all along stressed that the international community should try to avoid war by every means.

Tang noted that the recent trip to Iraq by Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei, the two chief UN weapons inspectors, had yielded some positive results as Iraq have consented to further cooperation and the recent inspections have identified a number of questions. "This has fully testified to the great importance of the inspection," the Chinese minister said.

He called on the Security Council to assume its responsibility and play a major role, especially in supporting the two agencies led by Blix and ElBaradei and continuing the inspection so as to clarify the outstanding questions.

"For this end, China is ready to provide necessary support in terms of personnel and technology," he said.

Tang also urged Iraq to further its substantive cooperation with the United Nations and said Iraq's implementation of relevant UN resolutions in a strict, comprehensive and practical manner constitutes an essential precondition of the avoidance of war.

The minister pledged China's unremitting efforts to seek a solution of the Iraq issue within the framework of the United Nations.

UN weapons inspectors are expected to submit a second report about Iraq's compliance to the UN Security Council on Friday.

Washington has expressed hope that the new report will help the United States secure a second UN resolution which may authorize the use of force to disarm Iraq.

But countries like France, Russia and Germany have been advocating for more UN inspectors, saying that there is no reason to go to war at this stage.

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2003)