China on Wednesday welcomed a ceasefire deal signed between the Sudanese government and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), a key rebel group in Darfur.

"The deal was an important achievement of the Doha negotiation and a key step towards peace in the region. It showed the determination and sincerity of the Sudanese government and relevant groups in Darfur to resolve the Darfur issue through negotiations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir signed the long-awaited truce deal with representatives from JEM late Tuesday in the Qatari capital Doha.

Khalil Ibrahim, leader of the rebel group, said the truce would take effect midnight Tuesday.

Devastating fighting broke out in Darfur that borders Chad in 2003 between ethnic rebels and the Sudanese government forces leaving around 300,000 people dead and 2.7 million others homeless, the UN estimates.

According to documents setting out the terms of the deal, the Sudanese government would offer government positions for members of JEM, with the organization being transformed into a political party, the Qatar News Agency reported.

Qin also hailed the unremitting efforts made by the Qatari government, the Chadian government and the joint chief mediator of the United Nations and the African Union for Darfur peace Djibril Bassole in this regard.

He called on other parties in Darfur to actively join in the peace process in Darfur, and urged the international community to see the deal as an opportunity to further promote the political process to resolve the issue comprehensively and appropriately, and maintain peace, stability and development in the region and Sudan as a whole.