A senior Chinese diplomat said Tuesday that too much pressure
and expanding sanctions will not help resolve tensions in the
Darfur region.
Liu Guijin, the newly appointed Chinese special representative
on Darfur, made the remark at a briefing that came two days after
he concluded a five-day visit to Sudan.
Liu said "signs of positive progress" had emerged and he called
on the international community to use its political wisdom and
creativity to push for a peaceful resolution by political
means.
"In the current situation, too much pressure or expanding
sanctions will not be helpful for the peaceful settlement of the
issue, but instead further complicate the situation," Liu said,
adding that many previous cases had already proved that issues like
Darfur would never be properly addressed without the country's
internal political process.
He said China always tried to promote peace and in order to
fulfill the role, the country has offered 80 million yuan (US$10.4
million) in humanitarian aid to Darfur and would send a 275-member
engineering unit to participate in the implementation of the second
phase of a UN support plan.
The Chinese government would continue to provide material
assistance to the region, including vehicles and water pumps that
could help the region to resume production so as to achieve
economic and social development. China's cooperation with Sudan on
oil exploration helps boost the economic growth and fundamentally
resolve war-led chaos and social disturbance in Sudan, Liu
said.
The special representative praised the Sudanese government and
the international community's role in Darfur, saying his five-day
trip, during which he visited the cities of Fashir and Nyala as
well as three camps for displaced people, led him to believe the
situation in Darfur was gradually improving.
"China will play a further active and constructive role in
Darfur," Liu added.
"My appointment as special representative on the Darfur issue
also reflects the Chinese government's commitment to further
consult, communicate, and coordinate with the concerned parties for
a resolution to the issue," Liu said.
Liu, 61, a veteran diplomat, is a former ambassador to Zimbabwe
and South Africa, and has been engaged in African affairs for more
than 25 years.
Liu visited Sudan from May 19 to 23, when he held meetings with
Sudanese Vice President Osman Mohammed Taha, Presidential Advisor
Majzoub al-Khalifa and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs al-
Wasila al-Samani.
Liu also made a fact-finding visit to Darfur and attended in
Khartoum the ceremony of signing documents for the delivery of a
new batch of humanitarian assistance materials from the Chinese
government for the Darfur people.
"I have conveyed the concerns of the international community to
the Sudanese leaders on many occasions and I suggest the Sudanese
government show more flexibility and strength to accelerate the
peace process," Liu said.
(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2007)
