Li Zhaoxing made the remark in a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharazi Sunday. He said China attaches great importance to and supports the statement made by foreign ministers of eight Middle East countries at a recent meeting on the Iraqi issue.

Li Zhaoxing said the situation in Iraq should be stabilised as soon as possible to bring to an end to the worrying state of anarchy in the country. He said that the looting of embassies went against international law, and that the plundering of cultural relics was an irreparable loss. He also added that the humanitarian crisis in Iraq should be relieved soon and China will increase its aid to the Iraqi people according to what they needed.

Li Zhaoxing stressed that the post-war arrangements and reconstruction of Iraq should be dealt with within the framework of the United Nations.

Kharazi said Iran attaches great importance to the role China plays on the Iraqi issue and is willing to maintain contact with China on this issue.