China Backs U.S. Embargo on Iran Arms : Administration Given Beijing Assurance on Silkworm Missiles

China’s foreign minister told President Reagan today that his government is concerned about the Iran-Iraq War and supports an arms embargo against the Tehran regime, a White House spokesman said.

Presidential spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said the Administration also accepts China’s declaration that it no longer is selling Silkworm missiles to Iran, although it remains a supplier of conventional arms.

Reagan met for nearly 40 minutes in the Oval Office with Wu Xueqian, who was making his first visit to the United States in four years. Posing for photographers, Reagan said, “We have a very cordial relationship between our two countries and we want to continue it.”

Briefing reporters on the meeting, Fitzwater said Wu offered support for a U.N. cease-fire resolution in the Iran-Iraq War, and also endorsed an arms embargo to back it up “if the overwhelming majority of the (U.N.) Security Council believes it should be adopted.”

Fitzwater said the Administration does not believe that Wu was trying to qualify or limit his endorsement.

“It was our reaction, the President’s reaction, that this was a very positive sign, a very strong expression of support and one, frankly, one we hope the Soviet Union would emulate,” Fitzwater said.

No Talk of Silkworms

In the talks, Reagan did not bring up the subject of the Silkworm missiles, although it was discussed in Wu’s earlier meetings with Secretary of State George P. Shultz, Fitzwater said.

The United States protested to China last fall about its sale of Silkworms to Iran. “To the best of our information, they have not delivered any missiles since then,” Fitzwater said.

While noting that China remains a major supplier of conventional arms, he said, “We think the fact that we have not detected any new missile shipments and their general attitude toward the Iran-Iraq War and the U.N. resolution--that those are very hopeful signs.”

Wu met Monday with Shultz and with Defense Secretary Frank C. Carlucci.

During toasts following a State Department luncheon on Monday, Shultz and Wu hailed the progress in bilateral relations and made almost no reference to issues dividing them.