Blair in talks with Chinese president

The Chinese president says the world must take "as much time as is needed" to defuse the situation with Iraq and avoid war.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin has also told Prime Minister Tony Blair that weapons inspections in Iraq are working.

The government's Xinhua News Agency and the Foreign Ministry announced the conversation between the two leaders.

The ministry says Jiang emphasised that military force will not solve the world's problems.

"War is to no one's advantage," the ministry quoted Jiang as saying, reiterating statements he has made in recent days.

"Whatever the cost, it's in everybody's interest to take as much time as is needed."