BBC Monitoring quotes from China, Taiwan press 5 Mar 07.

(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)

The following is a selection of quotes from editorials and commentaries carried in 4-5 March 2007 website editions of mainland Chinese, Hong Kong and Taiwan newspapers available to BBC Monitoring. Unless otherwise stated, the quotes are in Chinese. The figure in brackets after the quote indicates the date of publication on the website

Iraq

Beijing's China Daily in English: www.chinadaily.com.cn "...The international community needs to make efforts to restore peace and stability in Iraq. The support of Iraq's neighbours is vital... Although the possibility of bilateral talks between the US and Syria or Iran has not been announced, the US seems to be adjusting its policies on the two countries. Inviting Syria and Iran to the Iraq talks [in Baghdad on 10 March] may help Iraq to find the desperately needed path to peace and stability." (Commentary) (5)

"Six-party talks gradually enter positive cycle"

Hong Kong's Ta Kung Pao (Beijing-backed daily): www.takungpao.com "...North Korea and the United States have adopted a more realistic and more flexible stance... North Korea and the United States made the right choice and showed a certain degree of courage in reaching the '13 February joint statement', and the result was that no-one lost face... This is not to say that it will be smooth sailing in the North Korean nuclear issue from now on, but since the ice has been broken, a navigation path can be opened up in future." (Tao Wenzhao, …