On April 8, 2003, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov. They exchanged views on the Iraqi issue and on the nuclear issue in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea over the phone.

Li said the war against Iraq has created many serious problems, and most members of the international community have called for it to cease. At the same time, Li suggested, all sides should lose no time and take concrete measures to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Iraq. China is preparing to send more aid to Iraq. Only a resolution of the Iraqi issue within the UN framework on the basis of the Security Council resolutions will benefit regional peace and stability. On the DPRK nuclear issue, Li said the achievement of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and the maintenance of regional peace and stability conform to the interests of all sides. The most important thing is to commence the dialogue and resolve relevant problems peacefully.

Ivanov informed Li about the recent contacts that Russia has made with relevant countries on the above issues. He stressed that the United Nations should play a leading role in the post-war reconstruction of Iraq, adding that Russia supports the stance that the DPRK nuclear issue be resolved peacefully through dialogue.