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)