China to Work for Lifting Sanctions Against Iraq

China will continue to work for lifting sanctions against Iraq within the United Nations, Chinese top legislator Li Peng said Saturday.

Li made the remarks in a meeting with Abdul Hadi Al Al-Majali, speaker of Jordan's House of Representatives, in this coastal summer resort, about 300 kilometers east of Beijing, this morning.

Li said it is unreasonable to remain such sanctions against Iraq since the Gulf War has ended for 10 years, adding such sanctions would only bring about sufferings to the innocent Iraqi people.

On the Middle East issue, Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said that China has long supported the right cause of the Arabian people, and the Palestinian people's struggle for restoring legal national rights.

He expressed the hope that Palestine and Israel will, under the framework of relevant UN resolutions and in accordance with the principle of "land for peace", continue their peace negotiations and resolve differences, so as to settle the final status of Palestine at an early date.

He said that China is in favor of strengthening exchanges between parliaments of different countries, adding that since parliamentarians come from all walks of life and represent wide- ranging areas, their exchanges are conducive to promoting mutual understanding and cooperation.

Li said he hopes that Sino-Jordanian friendship groups of the two parliaments will continue to play a unique role in pushing forward bilateral relations.

He praised Jordan's unique and positive role in pushing forward the Middle East peace process.

Li also briefed the guests on China's NPC system and its strategy to develop the west.

Abdul Hadi Al Al-Majali said that Jordan places great importance on developing relations with China, especially economic and trade cooperation, praising China's consistent support for the Palestinian people's right struggle.

He said that Jordan's parliament hopes to increase exchanges with the Chinese NPC, thus creating a favorable atmosphere for the growth of bilateral relations.

He invited Li to visit Jordan and Li accepted the invitation.



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