Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, speaking in Shanghai on Tuesday
afternoon, outlined his view that the Darfur issue now stands "at a
crucial moment" and that relevant parties should enter political
peace talks as quickly as possible.
Wen was speaking at the African Development Bank annual meeting
in Shanghai, adding that consultations must be maintained between
the international community and the Sudanese government in a spirit
of equality.
Ensuring that helping the Darfur people achieve peaceful
co-existence and giving them a real shot at development is in the
interests of Sudan and the whole of Africa, said Wen, adding that
this formed the basis of China's efforts to resolve the issue.
Wen reminded the assembled dignitaries of the Chinese
government's persistent and active work in Darfur, not only has it
consistently provided humanitarian assistance but China has also
dispatched several special envoys to the region.?
China, playing its part in the second phase of the Annan
proposal, has also appointed a special envoy on African affairs and
is preparing to deploy a 275-strong multifunctional engineering
corps to the region as part of a UN support force.
The Annan proposal, developed by former UN Secretary-General
Kofi Annan, is a three-phase support plan which would see the
African Union and UN assume command of a joint peacekeeping force
in the Darfur region.
(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2007)
