Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister TariqAziz left Baghdad on Wednesday for Beijing on a several-day visit to China, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported.

INA said Aziz, who will also visit Malaysia after his China trip, will hold talks with officials of the two countries over waysof enhancing bilateral relations.

Both China and Malaysia abstained from voting on a United Nations Security Council resolution on Iraq last December, which was supported by the United States and Britain.

Under the resolution, a new arms inspection body called the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) will be established to replace the UN Special Commission (USOM) in charge of disarming Iraq.

The nine-year trade sanctions on Iraq will be suspended should Baghdad fully cooperation with the new UN arms inspection body and fulfill key disarmament tasks to be defined by weapons inspectors, the resolution said.

Iraq accused that the new weapons inspection regime is a tool aimed at keeping the embargo in place, and has repeatedly declared its rejection to the resolution.

China, Russia and France, three permanent members of the UN Security Council favor the lifting of the crippling embargo imposedon Iraq following its invasion of Kuwait in 1990. (Xinhua)