China looks forward to a comprehensive, just, and rational settlement of the Iraq issue to the benefit of long-term peace and stability in the Gulf region, said Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan on January 7.

Tang made the comment in talks with visiting Iraqi Deputy PrimeMinister Tareq Aziz, during which the two sides exchanged views ona wide range of issues including the Iraq issue and bilateral relations.

Aziz extended congratulations to China on Macao's return to themotherland, and said Iraq will firmly support China's reunification efforts and hopes to deepen the existing friendly cooperative relations between the two countries. The leaders of Iraq are satisfied with bilateral ties and consider China a sincere friend of the Arab countries, he noted, adding that developing relations with China is one of Iraq's major goals.

Tang said that both China and Iraq are developing countries, and it is in the fundamental interest of the two countries to develop bilateral ties. China values its friendship and cooperation with Iraq and appreciates its "one China" position andits support of China's reunification, he noted. The two countries also share consensus on many international issues including the issue of human rights.

Aziz briefed Tang on the latest situation in Iraq and Iraqi government's stance on the United Nations Resolution 1284. Iraq appreciates China's just stand on the issue and values China's positive role in the UN Security Council, Aziz said, adding that he hopes China will continue to play its important role in this regard.

Tang reiterated China's principled stand on the Iraq issue and elaborated China's attitude toward relevant consultations and the new resolution of the UN Security Council concerning the issue. China has been sticking to its principled stand on the Iraq issue and has consistently opposed sanctions while emphasizing a comprehensive, just, and rational settlement of the issue.

China holds that Iraq should cooperate with the United Nations and implement all relevant UN Security Council resolutions. At the same time, the sovereignty and territorial integrity and the political independence of Iraq, which is a sovereign state, shouldbe highly respected by the international community, Tang stated.

The UN Security Council should be fair and objective in assessing Iraq's implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, and, accordingly, gradually ease and eventually lift the sanctions against Iraq, Tang stressed.

Aziz arrived here Thursday at the invitation of the Chinese government.