On October 14, 2002, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan held talks with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the foreign ministry building. The two sides exchanged views and reached broad consensus on major international and regional issues including the strengthening of the UN's role, as well as the UN reform, Iraq, the Middle East and Afghanistan.

On the Iraqi issue, Tang said that the Iraqi issue should be solved politically within the framework of the United Nations. Member states of the UN Security Council are stepping up their consultations in hopes of reaching a consensus on this issue so that UN inspectors can soon return to Iraq and carry out their mission effectively. Echoing Tang, Annan expressed his appreciation for China's support for the UN's work during the past years, and his hope that China will continue to support the UN's playing a greater role in solving regional hot spot issues.