CHINA/FILE: China welcomes French proposal to establish a humanitarian corridor to channel aid to Darfur people

Record ID: 455551

  • Title: CHINA/FILE: China welcomes French proposal to establish a humanitarian corridor to channel aid to Darfur people
  • Date: 9th June 2007
  • Summary: (AD1) BEIJING, CHINA (FILE - 2006) (REUTERS) SUDANESE PRESIDENT OMAR AL-BASHIR WALKING OFF CHARTERED PLANE SECURITY GUARD/CAMERAMAN BASHIR WALKING PAST HONOR GUARDS WIDE SHOT OF MEETING BETWEEN BASHIR AND CHINESE PRESIDENT HU JINTAO BASHIR LISTENING HU JINTAO AND CHINESE DELEGATION LISTENING
  • Embargoed: 24th June 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA2WLL4JLL2K4XS9JKJ0XEVRV9O
  • Story Text: Chinese Special Envoy to Darfur, Lui Guijin, speaks exclusively to Reuters about his country's views on sanctions, humanitarian efforts, the Olympics and UN peacekeepers in the troubled Sudanese province. Liu Guijin, China's representative on African affairs, said on Thursday (June 7) that China would seriously consider a French suggestion that a humanitarian corridor be set up through Chad to channel aid to victims of violence in Darfur.
    "We welcome any proposal that could be conducive to resolving the Darfur issue through political means. We welcome any proactive act which could help ease the humanitarian situation for people in the Darfur region. Therefore we the proposal raised by France to establish a humanitarian corridor through Chad. We will look into it very seriously. We are very open to such things," said Liu.
    Chad however rejected the suggestion on Tuesday (June 5) and aid agencies have criticised the idea as potentially dangerous as it could cause confusion between aid workers and soldiers.
    Liu said the Sudanese government had indicated that it was ready to have discussions with the rebel leaders for the purpose of bringing them to join the DPA (Darfur Peace Agreement) and forcing U.N. troops on Khartoum by applying sanctions would complicate efforts to resolve the Darfur crisis.
    "Under these circumstances, to announce more sanctions will furthur complicate the situation. And it is not conducive to pushing for a proper solution of the Darfur issue," said Liu.
    The United States imposed new unilateral sanctions on Sudan last week and sought support for an international arms embargo out of frustration at Sudan's refusal to end the strife in Darfur.
    China, which has veto power on the U.N. Security Council, has urged the international community to show patience with Sudan, saying the sanctions will hurt efforts for peace in the western Sudanese region.
    Beijing also opposes sending U.N. peacekeepers to Darfur without Khartoum's consent, saying it is to respect the country's sovereignty right.
    "On one hand, China is hoping that the United Nations can play a bigger role in handling conflicts in Africa. On the other hand, we advocate the U.N. send peacekeeping troups to Darfur after they get approval from the Sudan government. I think these two points are not conflicting to each other," said Liu.
    China is a major investor in Sudan's oil industry and sells weapons to its government, prompting calls for it to use its leverage to pressure Khartoum over Darfur, where some 220,000 have died and 2 million displaced in fighting between government-linked militias and rebel groups since 2003.
    China's role has also made it a target of critics who say it is abetting the bloodshed in Darfur and who have called for a boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games over the issue.
    Liu said the two were unrelated.
    "The spirit of Olympis is not about politics. The 2008 Games is a grand sports event which has been supported by governments and people all over the world. It is ridiculous to link this grand event to China's position on the Darfur issue. Some media and non-governmental orgnizations are trying to sensationalize the issue deliberately. China has adopted a fair, active and constructive attitude towards the Darfur issue," said Liu.
    He also defended China's oil trade with Sudan.
    "This cooperation is indeed equal, mutually beneficial, transparent, and not at all exclusive to other coutries. It has been very well received by various social circles in Sudan, and it has contributed to the economic and social development of the country. It therefore creates conditions for the resolution of conflicts such as the Darfur issue. Because one of the reasons that lead to the issue is lack of development and poverty," said Liu.
    Beijing said earlier last month it would commit 275 military engineers to a U.N. force to implement initial stages of the "Annan" peace plan, which involves bolstering African Union peacekeepers already in Darfur.
    Sudan has so far agreed to accept just 3,500 U.N. personnel on top of the overstretched African Union force, but the full peace plan calls for a "hybrid force" of more than 20,000.
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