Chinese special envoy for Darfur Liu Guijin has said that China will never pursue its own interests at the cost of Sudan.

Liu Guijin made the remark at a news conference in Beijing on Friday after his visit to Darfur last month. He also called on the international community to make increasing efforts to resolve the Darfur issue.

CRI reporter Tu Yun has more.

At the news conference, Liu Guijin rebutted some Western countries' comments that China pursues its own oil interests at the cost of Sudan. Liu said Sudan is not China's main oil source and that economic co-operation between the two countries to explore Sudan's oil industry has boosted the development of the African country.

China, along with international partners, especially with some Asian countries, have been co-operating to explore and refine Sudan's oil, but China is not the biggest share holder of the investment. Thanks to the cooperation, Sudan has undergone a very fast economic development.

Liu Guijin added that Sudan has sustained the fastest economic growth rate among all the African countries in recent years, with an impressive GDP growth rate of 11 percent last year.

The special envoy also said China will continue to deploy the dual-track strategy, which is designed to push forward political negotiations and the peacekeeping mission in Darfur in a balanced manner.

Liu Guijin said China is the first nation outside of Africa to send peacekeepers to Darfur. The country has pledged to send a 315-member peacekeeping engineering unit and a second batch of 175 peacekeepers will be dispatched to the region soon.
He said the situation is complicated as some Western countries threatened to impose economic sanctions on Sudan. He stressed China has been adopting a clear-cut stance that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan should be respected and that sanctions were not conducive to resolving the Darfur issue.

Chinese government's position or policies toward Sudan have been consistent. Before me, we sent to Sudan quite a few special envoys. When they visited Sudan they also tried to engage with the government of Sudan to try to find positive and long-term proper solutions to the issue.

The envoy said China will continue to work with other Security Council members to guarantee the hybrid peacekeeping operation and help to maintain the reconstruction and economic restoration of Darfur so as to achieve enduring peace in the region.

Tu Yun, CRI news.