On this day, 27 years ago, on December 17, 1998 (October 29, 1998 in the lunar calendar), leaders of China, Russia and the United States exchanged views on the situation in Iraq. On the afternoon of December 17, 1998, Russian President Yeltsin called our President Jiang Zemin. During the call, the two heads of state exchanged views on the current Iraq crisis. Yeltsin said that Russia spoke highly of China's position on the Iraq issue. While the United Nations Security Council was discussing the issue of weapons inspections in Iraq, the United States and Britain bypassed the Security Council and took military action against Iraq, grossly undermining the United Nations Charter and the norms of international law. This is absolutely unacceptable to Russia. Jiang Zemin elaborated on China's principled position on the Iraq issue, emphasizing that China advocates the peaceful settlement of international disputes and opposes the use of force in international relations. China is deeply disturbed by the military strikes by the United States and Britain on Iraq that may have serious consequences on the situation in the Gulf region and international relations. The two heads of state stated that the United Nations Security Council should take responsibility for international peace and security, support the United Nations Secretary-General in playing an active role, and are willing to work together with the international community to stop military operations against Iraq as soon as possible and resume the political settlement process of the Iraq weapons inspection issue. On the same day, U.S. President Clinton sent a letter to President Jiang Zemin explaining the U.S. position on conducting a military strike against Iraq. In his reply to US President Clinton, President Jiang Zemin called on the United States and Britain to stop military actions and create conditions for all parties to seek a solution through dialogue.