Chinese, French presidents to discuss Iraqi issue

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, January 19, 2004

Chinese, French presidents to discuss Iraqi issue

Chinese President Hu Jintao will confer with French President Jacques Chirac on Iraq issue during his upcoming visit to France, said officials with Chinese Foreign Ministry Monday in Beijing.

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Chinese President Hu Jintao will confer with French President Jacques Chirac on Iraq issue during his upcoming visit to France, said officials with Chinese Foreign Ministry Monday in Beijing.

Hu will pay state visits to France, Egypt, Gabon and Algeria from Jan. 26 to Feb. 4 at the invitation of the four nation's presidents.

Liu Haixing, deputy director of the ministry's department of Western Europe Affairs, said the Iraqi issue has aroused extensive attention from the international community, and the Chinese President will exchange views with his French counterpart on Iraq's political and economic reconstruction during their talks.

Zhai Jun, director of the ministry's department for West Asian and North African Affairs, said China maintains that the Iraqi issue should be solved in line with the Iraqi people's fundamental interests, to safeguard regional stability and to maintain the UN Security Council's authority.

Zhai said China believes Iraq's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence should be maintained, and any new regime in Iraq should be decided by the Iraqi people.

The international community should actively participate in Iraq's reconstruction process, with the United Nations playing a key role, said Zhai.

Based on these principles, China hopes to play a positive role in resolving Iraqi issue and taking part in Iraq's reconstruction process, Zhai said.

At an international donors' conference on Iraq reconstruction in Madrid, capital of Spain, in October, 2003, the Chinese government announced it would provide assistance of 25 million US dollars for the Iraqi people.

The assistance indicated the Chinese people's concern for the Iraqi people to live peaceful, stable and happy lives, Zhai said.

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