China has made constructive and positive efforts, including using "very direct language" to resolve the Darfur issue peacefully and improve the security and humanitarian situation there, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said yesterday.

Beijing has used every means, including high-level exchanges, dispatching of the special envoys and conversations over the phone to persuade Khartoum to cooperate with the United Nations and the African Union to defuse tension in the Darfur regions, Qin said.

His remarks at the regular Foreign Ministry press briefing yesterday echoed Chinese special representative for African affairs Liu Guijin's comments that Beijing has exerted efforts privately and used direct language to persuade the Sudanese government to end the conflict in Darfur.

"In our own way and through various means, we have tried to advise the Sudanese government to be more flexible," Liu was quoted as saying. "Even on certain issues like (whether) to accept the Annan Plan (for a joint UN-African Union peacekeeping force) we used very direct language to persuade them to understand they have to be very flexible."

But, Liu said, imposing further sanctions on Sudan would be a counter-productive move.

Qin appealed to the Western media to understand Liu's comments in its entirety, saying China is concerned over the Darfur issue and wants it to be resolved peacefully.

China hopes the international community treats the Sudanese Government with respect at future talks, he said. "The talks should be held on an equal footing and consider the interests of all the sides."

Ethiopia PM

The Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, too, wants the Darfur issue to be resolved through political dialogue. In an appeal issued on Monday, Zenawi said new pressure or sanctions against Khartoum would only complicate matters.

The Darfur issue can be resolved only through political means and within the framework of the tripartite consultation mechanism of the UN, the African Union and the Sudanese Government, he said.

His remarks came during a meeting with Liu Guijin, who reached Ethiopia's capital of Addis Ababa on Sunday after ending a visit to South Africa.

Zenawi said that as a member of the African Union and a friendly neighbor of Sudan, Ethiopia hopes the Darfur issue would be solved as early as possible.

(China Daily 06/20/2007 page2)