BEIJING, March 18: China’s president Hu Jintao told US President George W. Bush on Tuesday that China wanted a political solution to the Iraqi crisis and hoped for peace, not war, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Speaking after Bush warned Iraqi President Saddam Hussein he had 48 hours to flee or face invasion, Mr Hu told the US leader: “On the Iraq issue, China always advocates a political solution in the framework of the United Nations,” Xinhua reported.

“China hopes for peace instead of war,” Mr Hu added during their telephone conversation. Mr Hu’s comments were his first to Mr Bush since taking over from Jiang Zemin as China’s president over the weekend.

Chinese President also spoke on the phone with French President Jacques Chirac and Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the door to peace cannot close, state television reported.

“The door to peace cannot be closed,” Hu said.

Meanwhile, China said on Tuesday it was “deeply worried” about developments in the Iraq crisis and all Security Council members should work together to avoid war.

“The Chinese side is deeply worried about the developments of the Iraq situation,” said foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan.

“War seems to be imminent and all members of the Security Council should work together to avoid it.”—AFP