China calls for more flexibility from Sudan on Darfur

April 3, 2007 (BEIJING) — China hopes the Sudanese government could show more flexibility on the Darfur issue, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Tuesday.

China holds that the Darfur issue should be solved by political means and through dialogue and negotiation on an equal footing, Qin said when asked about the visit of Chief of Joint Staff of the Sudanese Armed Forces Haj Ahmed El Gaili.

Haj Ahmed El Gaili, who arrived in Beijing Sunday, was paying an eight-day visit to China, at the invitation of Chief of the General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Liang Guanglie.

Qin told a routine press conference that it has been China’s basic stance that peace and stability as well as economic reconstruction should be realized in the Darfur region at an early date.

China welcomes the efforts by parties concerned to have negotiations on a peace proposal put forward by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, said Qin, adding “we hope Sudan can show more flexibility on the issue”.

Qin called for relevant parties to go on pushing forward political process and strive for better humanitarian and security situation in the war-torn western region of Sudan.

China will continue to play a constructive role and work together with the international community for peace and stability in Darfur, Qin added.

(Xinhua)