Tang Jiaxuan Reaffirms China's Stand on Congo Issue

China has always stood for peaceful and political solution to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) through dialogue and national reconciliation.

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, who is on an official visit to Mozambique, made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua in Maputo on January 16.

He described the one-day special summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on DRC conflict held in Maputo on Sunday as " another effort made by the countries concerned in seeking the political settlement of the issue", adding that China appreciated such effort.

Tang said China supports the constructive efforts by the Organization of African Unity, SADC and the countries concerned for the political settlement of the issue.

China maintains that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of DRC should be fully respected and guaranteed, and the settlement of DRC conflict should be based on the Lusaka cease fire agreement signed in July last year, Tang said.

The prime task is not to revise the agreement, but to ensure the full and earnest implementation of the agreement by all parties concerned, he stressed.

China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has always held that the UN should attach great importance to the DRC conflict with practical actions.

Meanwhile, he said, it has backed and promoted the deployment of the UN peacekeeping force in the central African country.

China will continue to coordinate with the relevant African countries on this matter in the United Nations, Tang said. (Xinhua)


Please visit People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/