Annan welcomes end to US-China dispute

Welcoming the reported end to the dispute between China and the United States over an aerial incident, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today he had spoken to Washington and be in contact with Beijing shortly.

"I'm extremely happy that this issue has been resolved, because we were all concerned that the longer it got drawn out, the more likelihood -- the possibility -- that positions would have hardened in both countries and complicated and perhaps harmed the relationship that has taken so long to put together," Mr. Annan told reporters as he entered UN Headquarters in New York this morning. "And now that it is over, I hope we can go back to business."

The Secretary-General said he would be in contact with the Chinese leadership on the matter, adding, "I have already been in touch with the White House and the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, to congratulate President Bush and his foreign policy team, particularly Secretary of State Colin Powell."