Beijing's mediation praised in Sudan, S. Sudan issues

Calling China "a significant coordinator", South Sudan spoke highly of China's mediation efforts to ease Sudan-South Sudan tension on Monday, one day before Sudan and South Sudan resume talks.

"China, an old friend of Sudan and a new strategic friend of South Sudan, is playing a significant role mediating between the two countries. ... I believe HE Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan during his state visit to China has urged Beijing to use its friendship with Sudan to resume the talks," Monday Kumba, acting charge of affairs at the South Sudan embassy in Beijing, told China Daily.

Kumba said that South Sudan is willing to discuss all problems with Sudan "once and for all" during the talks in Ethiopia on Tuesday, calling for Khartoum to respect the international law and treaties.

The resumed talks would cover all the CPA outstanding issues between the two countries mainly border demarcation and how much the landlocked South Sudan should pay to transport its oil through Sudan, security, citizenship and the division of national debt.

China welcomes the attitude shown by the two countries and the resumption of talks, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Friday.

"We hope the two can earnestly follow the African Union roadmap and the UN Security Council resolutions to resolve the outstanding issues through negotiations."

Kumba added that South Sudan is committed to complying with the African Union and the United Nations resolutions in solving all the outstanding issues with Sudan through peaceful manners calling for Khartoum to respect the international law, treaties and the sovereign integrity of South Sudan.

He also told China daily that South Sudan would not go back to war with Sudan only in self-defense situations.

Kiir stressed ahead of the talks that "amicable dialogue on the outstanding issues with Khartoum is the only option for peace," according the South Sudan government's website.

Juba holds high expectations on the meeting, and is ready to resume oil production immediately after making sure that Sudan would respect the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of South Sudan, international law and practices, Kumba said.

The country, which relies on oil for around 98 percent of its income, shut down its oil production in January after Khartoum started holding part of the south's oil as compensation for what it calls Juba's unpaid debts.

International pressure and peoples' longing for stability and revitalizing economy have pushed the two countries to return to the long-running talks, said Li Xinfeng, an expert on African studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"Both China and the West want the two to achieve peaceful development, but the chronic Sudan-South Sudan disputes can hardly be resolved overnight," he added.

AFP contributed to this story.