Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in Beijing Tuesday at a regular press conference that China has put forward a proposal to the UN Security Council on the Iraqi issue, elaborating on China's goals and principles. 

Liu said the proposal, in the form of a "non-paper", includes the following goals:

l         to improve the security condition in Iraq, resume peace and stability and help the Iraqi people in reconstruction and development;

l         to maintain Iraq's political independence and territorial integrity and establish a new Iraq featuring democracy, openness, ethnic unity and neighborhood;

l         to help Iraq re-enter the international community and keep peace and stability in the Gulf region;

l         to create conditions for the international community to participate in Iraqi reconstruction and for the UN to play an important role.

As for the principles on the Iraqi issue, Liu said they are:

l         to respect the Iraqi people's will, choice and rights for the future of their country and to make the Iraqi people govern Iraq;

l         to settle the Iraqi issue within the framework of the UN and support the efforts made by the UN secretary-general and its representatives;

l         to hear voices from Iraq when it comes to the Security Council's related resolutions;

l         to respect all nations' legitimate rights in Iraq and address reasonable concerns of Iraq's neighboring countries and Arabic countries;

l         to respect, safeguard and promote human rights in Iraq.

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2004)