BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Tuesday that China hopes to see peace in Iraq and the Middle East and will continue to provide assistance to the reconstruction of Iraq to the best of its ability.

    Li said that he learned from foreign reports Tuesday morning that the fatalities of U.S. soldiers in Iraq reached 3,116 by Monday.

    "They are all human lives and very young lives. That's why we hope that we will see peace in Iraq and the Middle East region at an early date," Li said at a press conference held on the sidelines of the ongoing annual full session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.

    "China will continue to provide assistance to Iraqi reconstruction to the best of its ability," he said.

    China welcomes the efforts made by the Iraqi government in stabilizing the situation of security, advancing ethnic reconciliation and carrying out reconstruction, Li said.

    In this process, people also expect the United Nations to play an important role, the foreign minister said.