China to work with int’l community on Darfur issue – official

March 22, 2007 (BEIJING) — China will continue to play a constructive role and work together with the international community on the Darfur issue, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Thursday.

Liu made the remarks when asked to comment on a report that a French presidential candidate called for French athletes to boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games unless more is done to press the Sudanese government.

Liu said if the report is true, then the person who made the remarks might not have a clear idea about China’s stance on the Darfur issue.

China has held that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan should be maintained and dialogue and consultations on an equal footing should be made for peaceful settlement of the Darfur issue, Liu told a routine press conference.

At the current stage, China holds that the international community should work together to hold dialogue and consultations on an equal footing with the Sudanese government to push for a final, political solution of the issue, Liu said.

He also added the Chinese people and government warmly welcome friends from all over the world to Beijing in 2008 for the Olympic Games.

China will try its best to make the Beijing Olympic Games a great sports event, he said.

(Xinhua)