Chinese, French FMs discuss Iraq situation

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his French counterpart Laurent Fabius on Friday exchanged views over phone on the situation in Iraq.

China hopes to see the return of stability and order to Iraq as soon as possible, and to that end the international community should play an active role, Wang said.

He urged all Iraqi factions to further strengthen unity, form an inclusive government and take concrete steps to press ahead political reconciliation and economic rebuilding.

Fabius, on his part, expounded France's position on the issue.

He said that he agreed with the Chinese position and that the French side is ready to keep close communication with China on Iraq and other regional hotspot issues.

Both sides pledged to implement the consensus reached between the heads of state of the two countries during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to France in March, so as to uplift the China-French ties to a higher level.