China expects the United Nations (UN) to come up with a new resolution on Iraq, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing Tuesday.

Kong made this remark at a press briefing in reply to questions on China's response to United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan's suggestion that the five UN Security Council permanent members should hold consultations on the Iraq issue.

"We hope all parties can reach consensus as soon as possible on this issue," Kong told a regular press briefing.

He said the UN Security Council is now studying a new draft resolution on Iraq proposed by the United States.

"We hope that all parties can take a constructive attitude and actively participate in the consultation," he added.

China has been contacting relevant parties on the issue and will also actively participate in the consultation, the spokesman said.

He said a meeting for the foreign ministers of the five UN Security Council permanent members is scheduled to open in Geneva this week.

"China has received an invitation and Minister Li Zhaoxing is now considering his participation based on his schedule."

The Unites States distributed a draft resolution on September 3 and asked for a multinational force to secure stability in Iraq and for more international help in rebuilding the country.

Turning to the high-level exchange of visits between China and the United States, Kong said the two countries are still in consultation, without confirming Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to the United States. "It is important for the two countries to keep a high-level exchange of visits, which is conducive to enhancing mutual trust between their leaders and further pushing bilateral friendly and mutually-beneficial cooperation," Kong said.

In another development, the spokesman denied reports that a biological weapons expert from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea had been detained near the Australian Consulate in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province.

(China Daily September 10, 2003)