Speaking after the UN Security Council voted to lift 13-year-long UN sanctions on Iraq, Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Wang Yingfan said China always supports the UN to play a vital role in the solution to the issue of Iraq, particularly in the post-war reconstruction in the country.

This, he said, not only benefits the long-term security and stability in Iraq and the sustained peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East, but also helps safeguard the credibility and authority of the United Nations.

He said China noted that the cosponsors of the resolution made some revisions to the original text at the request of other Security Council members.

He said China voted in favor of the resolution in view of the urgent needs of post-war reconstruction in Iraq, although some of its specific concerns had not been addressed satisfactorily.

Wang expressed the hope that the resolution will be implemented smoothly and effectively and that the UN secretary-general will appoint a special representative to implement the mandate given to the UN as early as possible.

He also expressed the hope that normalcy will be restored to war-ravaged Iraq at the earliest possible time.

The Security Council voted 14 to zero to adopt Resolution 1483, lifting UN sanctions on Iraq and making arrangements for post-war reconstruction. Syria, one of the 15 members of the council, did not vote.

(People?s Daily May 23, 2003)