Only within the UN framework and on the basis of Security Council resolutions can the Iraq issue be fully and properly resolved, Liu said.

He expressed China's wish that the United Nations draw up detailed and well-prepared plans for postwar arrangements in Iraq as soon as possible.

China underlines that the post-war arrangements should respect Iraq's political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, while the will of the Iraqi people and the reasonable concerns of neighboring countries and other parties should also be respected, he said.

China to Continue Providing Humanitarian Aid to Iraq

Liu also announced China will continue providing humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people due to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country.

Liu said the war has caused serious humanitarian problems for the Iraqi people, and China has been keeping a close eye on the development of the humanitarian situation in Iraq.

China was among the first countries to offer humanitarian aid to Iraqi refugees and has sent several shipments of emergency humanitarian aid materials have been sent to Iraqi refugees in Jordan, Liu said.

The Red Cross Society of China has also taken similar action, Liu added.

The current humanitarian situation in Iraq is worsening, and the Chinese government and the Chinese people are concerned about the difficulties faced by the Iraqi people, Liu said, pledging that China will continue to provide humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people through various effective channels.

China Calls for Dialogue Between US, DPRK

In terms of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, Liu said China maintains that the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should engage in dialogue as soon as possible.

This is the most effective and most favorable method to resolve the issue, Liu said.

China has always maintained that the DPRK nuclear issue should be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means, he said.

China has adopted an active and open attitude towards all peaceful solutions to the issue, he said, stressing that the key is to obtain the consent of the parties involved.

Liu also noted that Yoon Young-kwan, minister of foreign affairs and trade of the Republic of Korea, arrived in Beijing Thursday noon and would meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

China Congratulates Congolese Interim Gov't

According to Liu at the press conference, China congratulated on Thursday the establishment of an interim government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and expressed hope that various parties stick to their reconciliation spirit and faithfully implement the relevant agreements for the peace and development of their nation.

Liu said that the DRC government and relevant parties have agreed on the arrangements concerning the interim government and President Joseph Kabila of the DRC was sworn in as president of the interim government -- moves which signal the beginning of a new phase of seeking political reconciliation and realizing national peace and unification.

On April 2, the DRC government and parties concerned reached consensus on the arrangements to set up an interim government during the Inter-Congolese Dialogue in the South African resort of Sun City. On April 7, Kabila became president of the interim government.

China sincerely hopes the parties concerned will keep their spirit of seeking common ground while shelving differences, and of seeking mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, sincerely implement relevant agreements so that the country could embark on a path to peace and development at an early date, Liu said.

Liu said China has always actively promoted the peace process in the DRC. It has sent military observers, engineering corps and medical groups to the United Nations mission to the DRC, and will participate in the work of the international support commission, he said.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China will, as always, play a constructive role in promoting an early settlement of the conflict, Liu said.

(Source from Xinhua News Agency, April 11, 2003)