China calls to push forward Darfur peace process

July 19, 2007 (BEIJING) — China, whose involvement in Sudan is becoming a public relations liability before next year’s Beijing Olympics, called Thursday for countries to continue their efforts to establish peace in the troubled Darfur region, state media said.

President Hu Jintao said during a meeting with visiting Sudanese First Vice President Salva Kiir that the international community should seize the opportunity and push forward the peace and political process in Darfur, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

“China will, as always, continue to play a constructive role,” Hu was quoted as saying.

China has been criticized for its involvement in Sudan, even as it tries to portray itself as a responsible power while welcoming the world to the 2008 Olympics, a massive source of national pride.

China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, buys two-thirds of Sudan’s oil exports, sells the African country weapons and military aircraft, and has blocked efforts to send U.N. peacekeeping forces to Darfur without Sudanese consent.

Liu Guijin, China’s special envoy to Sudan, has said China was instrumental in a June diplomatic breakthrough in which Sudan’s government finally agreed to let a strong force of U.N. and African Union peacekeepers be deployed in Darfur.

Chinese officials have warned against attempts to “politicize” the Olympics.

(AP)