CAIRO, Nov. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- World leaders and officials will gather at the Egyptian Red Sea Resort of Sharm el-Sheikh for the international conference on Iraq slated for Nov. 22-23 in a bid to stabilize Iraq's situation and push forward its reconstruction process.

    The conference will focus on the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546 on Iraq and address a message of support to the Iraqi people, said diplomats here. On June 9, the UN Security Council unanimously passed the US-British sponsored resolution, giving Baghdad sovereignty after the US-led occupation ended on June 30.

    The 32-point resolution endorsed the new Iraqi interim government, set out a timetable of democratic elections in January, 2005 and empowered the Iraqi government to demand the withdrawal of US-led multinational forces.

    The coming two-day conference in Sharm el-Sheikh will bring together Iraq's interim government with officials from neighboring countries, the Group of Eight, China, the United Nations, the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the European Union.

    The US government said it would secure international support for peace and stability in the war-torn country at the conference. When visiting Egypt last month, US Assistant Secretary of State William Burns said, "This (conference) is an opportunity to help Iraqis and the Iraqi government to organize and secure a political process in Iraq."

    US Secretary of State Colin Powell will attend the meeting after he visits Israel and the Palestinian territories on Nov. 21-22. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is also expected in Egypt on Nov. 21 to show support of the international community for Iraq, said Abdallah Durani, head of the UN information office in Cairo. China, one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, pays high attention to the forthcoming conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said in Beijing this month.

    She called for relevant parties to create favorable conditions for Iraq's elections, adding that China expected the Iraqi people to live a peaceful, stable life at an earliest date. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Nov. 13 talked with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul Gheit over phone, exchanging views on the conference.

    China has designated its Permanent Representative to the United Nations Wang Guangya to take part in the conference. Cairo has already held two preparation meetings for the conference with foreign envoys and outlined a draft document which would be submitted to the conference.

    The 14-point draft document stressed "the leading role of the United Nations in supporting, as circumstances permit, the political process" in Iraq as underlined in Resolution 1546. It also praises efforts made by the Iraqi interim government in establishing democracy and urges it to strive to hold the general elections before the end of January.

    The draft document urges the interim Iraqi authorities, before the elections, to hold a meeting in Iraq with representatives of various political powers, which are refused to attend the Sharm el-Sheikh conference, to discuss the internal affairs. It condemns all acts of "terrorism" in Iraq, including "kidnappings and assassination" that have targeted diplomats, workers and journalists in recent weeks.

    It also calls on Iraq's neighbors "to intensify cooperations to control the Iraqi borders" in a bid to "prevent the transit of terrorists to and from Iraq, arms for terrorists and financing that would support terrorists." Enditem