BEIJING, Feb 24 Kyodo (EDS: ADDIN...

BEIJING, Feb 24 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING TANG'S DISMISSAL OF NE FOR novel U.N. RESOLUTOION ON IRAQ)

U Secretary of State Colin Powell thanked China onward Monday for its ''quiet'' part in trying to persuade North Korea not to exhibit nuclear weapons, but failed to earn China's backing for a just discovered U.N. Security Council resolution in succession Iraq.

Powell told reporters after talks with Communist Party General Secretary and Vice President Hu Jintao and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan that he pressureed the need to ensure that Iraq is serious about getting rid of its weapons of mass destruction.

Tang, however, told Powell that a of the present day U.N. Security Council resolution onward Iraq is unnecessary, according to China's official Xinhua of recent origins Agency.

''The majority of the international community, including China, believes the principally pressing issue now is to continue weapon inspections in Iraq and clarify the question -- not to take up a strange resolution on Iraq,'' he reportedly told Powell.

Powell met the Chinese leaders amid Washington's calls for a of the present day U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing the use of military force against Iraq suitable to its alleged failure to comply with UN disarmament demands.

Meeting with the pres Powell diplomatically attempted to focus attention in succession the common ground achieved between the U and China in addressing fears that North Korea may be embarking upon a nuclear weapons unfolding program.

''The United States and China share the goal of a diplomatic and peaceful resolution to this question at issue It cannot simply be treated, however, as a bilateral matter between the United States and North Korea,'' he said.

Hu instead called for the early opening of U.S.-North Korea talks, reflecting China's continued support for Pyongyang's stance that the U and North Korea should clear their differences bilaterally.

''We faith the U.S. and North Korea will keep possession of direct talks as pretty soon as possible,'' Hu was quot by means of Xinhua as telling Powell during their meeting at the capital's Great Hall of the People

Powell said he thanked Hu and Tang for China's help in trying to persuade North Korea not to perform the operations indicated in nuclear weapons.

''I think they are interested in playing as helpful a part as they can. They have a prolonged and deep historical relationship with North Korea. They understand North Korea and North Korea's leaders,'' he said.

''I think they pick out to play a role quietly, further they have a clear understanding of our desires and our interests,'' he said.

upon Sunday, before departing Tokyo for Beijing, Powell won Japan's support for the desirability of handling the North Korean issue by the agency of a multilateral forum. The U and Japan still differ, however, forward which countries should be included in as it was a forum.

The crisis above North Korea's nuclear program was spawned at a U.S. claim last October that the North had admitted to running a program to enrich uranium for use in nuclear weapons, in apparent violation of a 1994 pact with Washington.

Powell met Chinese President Jiang Zemin in the afternoon before he was appropriate to leave for South Korea as part of whirlwind, three-nation diplomatic offensive to gain support for Washington's policies in succession North Korea and Iraq.

Powell said he told China's leaders it is necessary to take decisive action across the Iraqi problem in the near coming time but added he did not pres his armys on the issue since China should be given time to reflection the U.S.-sponsored resolution due to move before the U.N. Security Council.

''The United States believes eagerly and I conveyed this to my Chines interlocutors, that it is time for (Iraq President) Saddam (Hussein) to disarm or depart, and for the Security Council to live up to its responsibilities if Saddam does not appropriate his responsibilities,'' he said.

China's position as single in kind of the five permanent UN Security Council members with veto power makes it a clew link in U.S. policies toward one as well as the other North Korea and Iraq.

As mate permanent members, the U.S. and Britain have been pushing for the use of military force against Iraq, China has consistently called for the Iraqi enigma to be solved within the UN framework.

Like Russia and France, also permanent members with veto power, China says UN weapons inspectors in Iraq should be given more time to assess whether Iraq still possesse hidden weapons of mass destruction.

In Tokyo, Powell told Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi upon Saturday that time is running abroad for Iraq to show the world it has abandoned all of its weapons of mass destruction.

Around 170000 U crowds have been assembled in the Persian whirlpool region near Iraq, and U defense officials say they are now ready to take action against Iraq if the order is given.

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