BEIJING -- China Tuesday reiterated its opposition to expanding the war on terrorism to Iraq, but urged Baghdad to "strictly abide" by United Nations resolutions concerning international inspections of suspected weapons sites.

"The Chinese government's position against terrorism is very clear, we are against the willful expansion of the fight against terrorism," Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan told a news briefing.

His comments were in reference to Iraq, whose Deputy Premier, Tareq Aziz, was visiting China.

"We are concerned about the development of the situation in Iraq," Kong said, without directly commenting on reports the United States was preparing to step up its war on terrorism with new air strikes on Iraq.

"The Iraqis should strictly abide by the UN resolutions, on the other hand, its sovereignty and security should be safeguarded."

In talks Monday, Aziz briefed Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and Vice Premier Qian Qichen on the latest developments on Iraq, Kong said.

Aziz arrived in Beijing on Sunday after visiting Moscow, and was expected to depart from China on Wednesday morning, Kong said.

Russian press reports said Aziz would return straight to Moscow to continue consultations on a Russian proposal to resume UN weapons inspections in exchange for the lifting of UN sanctions on Iraq, in place since the 1991 Gulf War, AFP reported.