(2) what the Government’s policy is on Chinese involvement in the Sudanese oil industry; whether he has made representations to his Chinese counterpart on this issue, with particular reference to Darfur; and if he will make a statement.
We are expanding dialogue and co-operation with China on African issues including Sudan, and urging China to use its influence to play a constructive role on Darfur.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister agreed with Premier Wen on 18 January in Beijing to advance the deployment of the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur, a ceasefire and a political process in Darfur, and that the international community should support recovery and economic reconstruction in Darfur.
We welcome comments at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa on 30 January by China’s Special Envoy for Africa, Liu Guijin, calling publicly on the Government of Sudan to do more to end the crisis in Darfur. UK Ministers had further talks on these issues with Chinese counterparts during the Chinese Special Envoy’s visit to the UK on 21-22 February and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary’s visit to China on 25-29 February.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister agreed key objectives on Darfur with Chinese Premier Wen in his visit to China on 18 January.
UK Ministers agreed with the Chinese Special Envoy for Africa, Liu Guijin, in London on 21-22 February the key goals of accelerating the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur deployment so as to improve security and humanitarian access, re- energising the Darfur political process, and supporting implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reinforced these messages during his visit to China on 25-29 February, both in talks with Chinese Ministers and in a public speech at Peking University.