To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Chinese government on the situation in Darfur. (190755)

During his visit to China on 25-29 February, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reinforced the messages agreed between Ministers and the Chinese Special Envoy for Africa during his visit to the UK on 21-22 February.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary agreed with the Chinese Foreign Minister and Premier Wen on the need to press the Government of Sudan and rebels to end the violence in West Darfur; to facilitate the rapid and effective deployment of UN-African Union Mission in Darfur; and on the need for progress on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, in his speech at Peking University on 29 February, called on the Governments of Sudan and Chad to stop supporting rebels in each other’s countries, and underlined the need for the Government and all parties in Sudan to respect their responsibilities under international law; and to engage constructively in peace talks.