Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Sunday morning held a telephone
conversation with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the current
conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah.
During the talks, Annan told Li, who is on a visit to Papua New
Guinea, about UN Security Council's consultations on the conflict,
according to reports reaching Wellington.
While expressing his deep concern over the conflict that has
lasted four weeks, Li urged the parties concerned to cease fire
immediately and settle the issue through dialogue.
Li went on to say that the UN Security Council should take
actions to prevent the conflict from further spread.
Li also called on the UN to take tangible measures to ensure the
security of UN peacekeepers. China has provided humanitarian aid to
Lebanon and the Chinese special envoy has also departed for the
Middle East.
China will continue to make efforts to help solve the conflict,
Li stressed.
(Xinhua News Agency August 7, 2006)
