Walters in China for Talks on U.N. Plan to End Gulf War

U.S. envoy Vernon A. Walters arrived in Beijing on Friday to generate Chinese support for a U.N. resolution to end the Iran-Iraq War.

Walters, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, met with senior Foreign Ministry officials shortly after his arrival from Tokyo, a U.S. Embassy spokesman said.

Walters is expected to meet with Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian today.

The embassy spokesman said Walters’ mission is to persuade the Chinese to support the U.N. resolution for ending the nearly seven-year-old Persian Gulf War.

The resolution needs the support of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council--the United States, China, the Soviet Union, France and Britain.

The resolution calls for a cease-fire, a withdrawal from occupied territory and an arms embargo against the nation that refuses to honor the cease-fire.

Iraq has already called for a cease-fire.

China supplies arms to Iran. Its anti-ship Silkworm missiles recently arrived in Iran, alarming U.S. officials, who regard the weapon as a threat to U.S. warships and U.S.-escorted Kuwaiti oil tankers in the gulf.

Beijing has denied selling Silkworm missiles to Iran but has not explained how Iran received them. Chinese officials say they are investigating the matter.