On October 11, 2004, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held talks at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse with visiting UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Both sides exchanged opinions on such issues as Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan, UN reforms and the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

Li said that the key to resolving the Iraqi issue is to stabilize the security situation, set up a broadly representative government and give full play to the role of the UN. China supports the convening of international conferences on the Iraqi issue.

As to the Darfur issue in Sudan, Li pointed out that the international community should support and encourage the Sudanese government to adopt further actions to ease the humanitarian situation in Darfur and support the African Union to play a leading role. Imposing pressure or sanctions is not conducive to solving the issue.

Li said that China supports reasonable and necessary reforms of the UN and the Security Council in a bid to better cope with new threats and challenges. The reform should help maintain and consolidate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, improve the efficiency of the organization and facilitate the resolution of the development issue.

Annan highly complimented the constructive role China, as a permanent member of the Security Council, has played in addressing major international and regional issues. He stressed that the United Nations is willing to work jointly with China in pushing forward settlement of hot issues in areas concerned, safeguarding world peace and security and promoting cooperation and development.

Li Zhaoxing and Annan co-hosted a press conference to take questions from the journalists.