The leading role of the United Nations should be respected in handling postwar Iraqi affairs, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao in Beijing Thursday at a press conference.

Only within the UN framework and on the basis of Security Council resolutions can the Iraq issue be fully and properly resolved, Liu said.

He expressed China's wish that the United Nations draw up detailed and well-prepared plans for postwar arrangements in Iraq as soon as possible.

China underlines that the post-war arrangements should respect Iraq's political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, while the will of the Iraqi people and the reasonable concerns of neighboring countries and other parties should also be respected, he said.

Jianchao announced that China will continue providing humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people due to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country.

Liu said the war has caused serious humanitarian problems for the Iraqi people, and China has been keeping a close eye on the development of the humanitarian situation in Iraq.

China was among the first countries to offer humanitarian aid to Iraqi refugees and has sent several shipments of emergency humanitarian aid materials have been sent to Iraqi refugees in Jordan, Liu said.

The Red Cross Society of China has also taken similar action, Liu added.

The current humanitarian situation in Iraq is worsening, and the Chinese government and the Chinese people are concerned about the difficulties faced by the Iraqi people, Liu said, pledging that China will continue to provide humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people through various effective channels.

(Xinhua News Agency April 10, 2003)