On June 22, 2005, the International Meeting on the Iraqi Issue attended by more than 80 foreign ministers of state was held in the headquarters of European Union (EU) in Brussels. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing was the first one to deliver a speech in the meeting and expounded the three propositions of the Chinese side on the Iraqi issue.

The three propositions are as follows: first, the "Iraq for the Iraqis" should be realized politically; second, comprehensive security measures should be taken; third, the haematopoietic function of the economy should be resumed. Li Zhaoxing said that Iraq belongs to all Iraqi people and its future can only be decided by the people themselves. The United Nations (UN) must play an important role in resolving the Iraqi problem. Meanwhile the voices of the neighboring countries of Iraq and Arab countries should be heard and their roles should be brought into play.

Li said that we condemn those violent activities targeted at civilians. We also hope that the multi-national force can effectively fulfill their duties and strive for stabilizing the security situation in Iraq. It is no doubt important to expedite the reconstruction of Iraqi military forces and police, but there is a deep-rooted cause for existing security problems. Compressive measures must be taken to address these problems.

Li said that the most important thing for the reconstruction of Iraq is to resume its haematopoietic function so as to bring the abundant natural and human resources of Iraq into full play. The international society should fulfill its aid promise made in the Madrid Meeting and strengthen the coordination among all countries and international organizations. A fair and transparent environment is conducive to motivating the enthusiasms of all parties in the reconstruction efforts.

Li noted that China supports to properly resolve the political, economic and security issues of Iraq as soon as possible according to such related resolutions as UN Security Council Resolution 1546. China will continue to be committed to the reconstruction course of Iraq. We are earnestly fulfilling our promise of US$ 25 million aid to Iraq and decreasing or exempting Iraq's debts by a large margin. China has aided the Iraqi general election with US$ 1 million and trained diplomats and talents in economic management and resource exploitation for Iraq.

This meeting was held at the initiative of the US and EU. Representatives from five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the EU member countries, foreign ministers and senior officials from Iraq, Iraq's neighboring countries, major donating countries and the countries that dispatch troops for multi-national force in Iraq and representatives from 11 international and regional organizations including the UN, League of Arab States (LAS), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) were present at the meeting. Headed by Prime Minister Jaafari, many senior officials of the Iraqi transitional government attended the meeting.

Foreign Minister Asselborn of Luxemburg - the rotating presidency of the EU, US Secretary of State Rice and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan all expressed in their opening address that the international society should continually commit itself to the reconstruction of Iraq and further advance the Iraqi political course, economic reconstruction, security order and legal construction.