China's commercial activities in Iraq were all subjected under the United Nations "oil-for-food" program and, therefore, all were legitimate, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhang Qiyue in Beijing on Thursday.

All the business contracts signed by Chinese companies with Iraq after the Gulf War were approved by the UN 661 committee, andall of China's commercial activities in Iraq were carried out through normal, legal procedures, Zhang acknowledged at a routine news conference.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed an independent team to look into whether all commercial activities under the program in Iraq complied with the relevant UN resolutions, Zhang said. The Chinese side expects the team to clarify the relevant issues as soon as possible thorough its detailed investigation.