BEIJING - China on Saturday urged Sudan and South Sudan to remain calm and restrained after South Sudan's decision to stop the production of oil and its exportation through Sudanese territories.

"Oil is the economic lifeline shared by Sudan and South Sudan," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Weimin said in response to a question on South Sudan's decision.

"We urge the two sides to remain calm and restrained, avoid taking any extreme action and continue working together with mediation by the African Union and other parties to resolve their dispute through negotiation at an early date and to benefit the two countries and their peoples," he said.

"The Chinese side hopes that the two governments will fulfill their commitment to protecting the legal rights of Chinese enterprises and those of other partners."

The South Sudanese government on Friday decided to stop oil production due to a disagreement with Sudan over exportation of South Sudan's oil via Sudan's pipelines and harbors.