Chinese envoy: China to provide more humanitarian aid to Darfur(02/26/08)
Chinese Ambassador to Sudan Li Chengwen (front left) and Sudanese undersecretary of Humanitarian Affairs Charles Manianf sign their names during a handover ceremony of aid package from China to Darfur in Khartoum, capital of Sudan, Feb. 25, 2008. The Chinese government's special representative for Darfur, Liu Guijin, Monday pledged China will provide more humanitarian assistance to people in Sudan's western region of Darfur.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
KHARTOUM, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government's special representative for Darfur, Liu Guijin, Monday pledged China will provide more humanitarian assistance to people in Sudan's western region of Darfur.
"Our government is preparing a new budget and more humanitarian assistance will be forced forward," Liu said at a handover ceremony of an aid package of 20 million Chinese yuan (2.8 million U.S. dollars).
"We just want to send signals to Sudan and the outside world that the Chinese people and their government are sympathetic with the people there in Darfur. China is showing solidarity to the Sudanese unity government in its efforts to help people in Darfur," he said.
China has delivered five batches of assistance to the Darfur region at a combined value of 80 million yuan (11 million dollars).
Monday's aid includes portable rooms, which could be used either as classrooms or clinics, said the envoy.
"The Chinese government and its people show great sympathy to those internally-displaced people (IDP) living in the camps in Darfur for their suffering and difficulties. So we are willing to provide necessary assistance for them," the Chinese envoy said.
"Though there are many transportation obstacles in Darfur, most Chinese humanitarian goods have already been distributed to those IDP camps there on the ground," he added.
Chinese Ambassador to Sudan Li Chengwen (front left) and Sudanese undersecretary of Humanitarian Affairs Charles Manianf exchange documents during a handover ceremony of aid package from China to Darfur in Khartoum, capital of Sudan, Feb. 25, 2008.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
In addition, Liu said Chinese companies have spent about 50 million dollars on development projects in Darfur, including 85 km of water pipelines, water wells and water containers.
Some wells and containers have been put to use, he said, adding that with these projects families in IDP camps and peacekeeping forces of the U.N.-African Union Hybrid Mission in Darfur will be able to drink clean water.
"With humanitarian aid and development projects, we show to the world that China is sincere in providing tangible assistance to Darfur," Liu said.
"We have never, and will never in the future, attach any kind of political conditions to these aid and development projects, because we think that providing assistance is just for the benefit of the people, it is not for political purposes, not for showing off to the outside world," he said.
The situation in Darfur, particularly the humanitarian situation, is gradually improving, he said, adding that he will go to Darfur Tuesday and visit some IDP camps to see those changes.
China has committed itself "to working closely with the Sudanese unity government and the transitional authorities in Darfur for the benefit of the people, for the end of people's suffering and for a long-lasting settlement of the Darfur issue," Liu said.
Sudanese Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Harun Run Liwal said his government and people in Darfur are grateful for China's humanitarian assistance, which is free of any conditions.
Run Liwal said he was glad to know that Liu would make a field tour to Darfur and visit the IDP camps again since it will be a good opportunity for the envoy to see how Chinese aid is distributed among the camps.
After a trip to Britain, Liu arrived here Sunday for a four-day visit, the fourth since his appointment on May 10, 2007.
The 62-year-old veteran diplomat and former Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe and South Africa has been engaged in African affairs for more than 25 years. During his previous missions, Liu shuttled between the United States, Britain, Egypt and other countries concerned to seek support for a solution to the Darfur issue.
Liu Guijin (L), the Chinese government's special representative for Darfur, shakes hands with Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor in Khartoum, capital of Sudan, on Feb. 24, 2008.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
KHARTOUM, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor Sunday said China is very much welcome in helping the country find a solution to the Darfur issue.
China is not directly involved in the Darfur conflict, but as a partner, "China is using its good relations with Sudan to help it solve the Darfur issue," Alor told reporters after a 40-minute meeting with Liu Guijin, the Chinese government's special representative for Darfur. Full story
KHARTOUM, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's envoy for the Darfur issue said on Sunday that China is committed to solving the Darfur issue and is not seeking expediency from the issue.
"What China is pursuing is to realize peace in Darfur as soon as possible, and to help Sudan achieve stability and development as soon as possible," Liu Guijin told Xinhua upon his arrival in Khartoum for a visit to Sudan. Full story
Liu Guijin, special representative of the Chinese government to Darfur issue, attends a news conference held at the Chinese Embassy in London, Britain, Feb. 21, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
LONDON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- A visiting senior Chinese diplomat said here Thursday that it was "totally unreasonable" to link Sudan's Darfur issue with the Beijing Olympics in August.
It was also "dangerous" to politicize the Olympics in the long run, said Liu Guijin, special representative of the Chinese government to Darfur issue, said at a news conference held at the Chinese Embassy in London. Full story
LONDON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- A visiting senior Chinese diplomat said here Thursday that China had done a great deal in order to solve the Darfur issue.
"Chinese government has done a great deal in order to solve the Darfur issue." Liu Guijin, special representative of the Chinese government on the Darfur issue, said at a news conference at the Chinese Embassy in London. Full story
BEIJING, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao spoke with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the phone Tuesday to discuss bilateral relations, the issue of Sudan's Darfur region and other international issues.
Both leaders hailed the good momentum in the growth of China-Britain relations and pledged to work together for stronger bilateral ties by deepening cooperation in economy, trade, environmental protection, energy conservation, culture and the Olympic Games. Full story
LONDON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- A visiting senior Chinese diplomat said here Thursday that pressure and sanctions would not be helpful for the resolution of the Darfur issue.
"One of the policies of Chinese government is that we have always stood for equal dialogue, patient consultation and negotiations in order to solve the political issues ... No pressure or sanctions can solve the wars or turmoil in essence," Liu Guijin, special representative of the Chinese government to Darfur issue, said at a news conference held at Chinese Embassy in London. Full story
