¡¡¡¡BEIJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- The Iraqi issue should be solved politically within the framework of the United Nations, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said here Monday during talks with visiting UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

¡¡¡¡Tang said member states of the UN Security Council are steppingup their consultations in hopes of reaching a consensus on this issue so that UN inspectors can soon return to Iraq and carry out their mission effectively.

¡¡¡¡Echoing Tang, Annan expressed his appreciation for China's support for the UN's work during the past years, and his hope thatChina will continue to support the UN's playing a greater role in solving regional hot spot issues.

¡¡¡¡During their talks, Tang and Annan exchanged views and reached broad consensus on major international and regional issues including the strengthening of the UN's role, as well as UN reform,Iraq, the Middle East and Afghanistan. Enditem