Beijing, Oct 05: China today said it supported a new resolution on Iraq which allowed the United Nations a "full play" in efforts aimed to restore stability and security in the war-torn nation. "China holds that the UN Security Council should adopt a new resolution on Iraq and give full play to the role of the United Nations so that stability and security could be ensured in Iraq as soon as possible," foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan said.

He also hoped that the new resolution would also realise "The Iraqi people administering Iraq" and help in the reconstruction of the country. Kong said China, one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, considers a new UN Security Council resolution on the Iraq issue "necessary".

The spokesman made the statement in response to a request for comment on a revised US draft resolution on Iraq, which was submitted to the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reports. The spokesman said the Chinese side is consulting with relevant sides on the draft and hopes that relevant parties could consider the overall situation in the long term and reach consensus at an early date through further consultation.

In the process, he said the UN Security Council should carefully listen to opinions from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Iraq's neighbouring countries and other Arab nations.

Meanwhile, Kong also expressed China's concern about the escalating conflict in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinians. Bureau Report