"What China is pursuing is aimed at realizing peace in Darfur as soon as possible and helping Sudan achieve stability and development as soon as possible," Liu said.

"China's commitment to resolving the Darfur issue is for the sake of peace, rather than for expediency," he added.

Liu said China is playing its role in resolving the Darfur issue in an open manner and will support any proposal or measure which is conducive to the settlement of the issue.

The Chinese envoy appealed for further international support for the UN and the AU – the other two important players of a tripartite mechanism that also includes Sudan in resolving the Darfur issue.

"Once again, I would like to urge the international community to further support efforts by AU envoy for Darfur Salim Ahmed Salim and UN envoy for Darfur Jan Eliasson to solve the Darfur issue," Liu said.

The UN Security Council in July 2007 authorized the deployment a UN-AU hybrid force in Darfur, which would comprise 20,000 troops and more than 6,000 police and civilian staff.

Until now, there are only some 9,000 uniformed personnel on the ground, including 7,000 troops and 1,200 police who had been serving with the AU force.

Liu said he is confident of a final settlement of the Darfur issue as long as all parties concerned make joint efforts toward this end.

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2008)