The international community faces another important issue if the hybrid peacekeeping operations succeed - intensifying efforts to promote the political process in the Darfur region. Up to now, only two political factions have signed the peace agreement with the Sudanese Government. It is said that there are 19 factions in Darfur. The Sudanese Government expressed a willingness for peace talks. Salim Ahmed Salim, Coordinator of the African Union (AU) to Sudan, and Jan Eliasson, the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy, jointly put forward a roadmap for the political process. According to the roadmap, June and July are comment periods. The roadmap's second phase, the so-called pre-negotiations, starts in July. In August, substantial negotiations will start. Salim and Eliasson have invited China to attend the second international conference on the Darfur issue in Tripoli, where participants will review new progress on the Darfur issue over the last two months and discuss the next steps.

We should pay attention to both tracks in the current two-track approach: executing peacekeeping operations while promoting the political process. Moreover, to resolve the Darfur issue and fulfill the goal of realizing smooth and sustained peacekeeping operations in Sudan, the international community and the Sudanese Government should establish mutual trust.

We face tough challenges with regard to the Darfur issue as the humanitarian crisis persists in the region and a ceasefire in a real sense is not achieved. The Chinese Government is taking positive steps in working with the international community for an early settlement of the issue.

You just mentioned the Tripoli Conference. Is it an institutionalized conference? Besides China, which other countries have confirmed their participation?

My colleagues call the Tripoli Conference the Tripoli Model. Eliasson and European Union officials consider it a realistic and effective mechanism. The first conference was held on April 27-28. China sent representatives to that conference. The second conference will be held on July 15-16. The conference has invited the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the countries neighboring Sudan, especially Chad, Central Africa, Eritrea and Egypt, the UN, the AU, the League of Arab State and the European Union. Moreover, Eliasson wants to have some of the rebel parties attend. I don't know whether he can succeed. The conference has wide representation, in particular with the participation of the AU and the Sudanese Government. Therefore, the Tripoli Conference is more than just talks. It may help resolve some problems.

There are several mechanisms for the Darfur issue. The most important one is the three-party consultation mechanism among the AU, the UN and the Sudanese Government. We think that this is the main channel that should be supported by the international community. Another one is the Tripoli mechanism, which mainly focuses on promoting the political process in Sudan. The Chinese Government supports any effort aimed at the proper settlement of the Darfur issue.

Does China believe that the AU forces are sufficient for implementing the Anna Plan's third phase?

The Sudanese Government accepted the third phase of the Annan Plan after the three-party consultation held in Addis Ababa on June 11-12. The plan has a unique African feature with priority given to the forces of African countries. If the African forces cannot meet the UN's needs, then consideration will be given to countries in other regions. Any country that wishes to dispatch forces first needs to consult the Sudanese Government.

If we don't pay attention to the reconstruction and economic rejuvenation of the Darfur region, it will be hard to maintain lasting peace, even if a peace agreement is reached. Some Western specialists and NGOs think that the root causes of the Darfur issue are poverty, underdevelopment and the scramble for scarce resources such as water, land and livestock. While executing the peacekeeping operations and providing humanitarian assistance to Sudan, we should take into consideration such factors as enabling Sudan's reconstruction and long-term development and enabling displaced persons to return to their homes. For this very reason, Chinese companies participated in water supply projects in Darfur. They also offered mobile clapboard houses as classrooms for students. Recently, we sent agricultural experts to build a demo center for agricultural technologies in a bid to assist Sudan's agricultural development. Peacekeeping is, of course, important. If there is no peace, there will be no development and reconstruction. But meanwhile we should advance the political process with a view to reconstruction and development in the Darfur region.

Did China tell the AU and African countries that it will offer more assistance to Africa so that it can play a more important role in the Annan Plan's third phase?

I met with the chairman of the AU in Addis Ababa during my recent trip to Africa. Our discussions concerning the Darfur issue focused more on some of the urgent issues faced by Darfur, including the hybrid peacekeeping operation and the cooperation between China and the AU. We offered a certain amount of assistance to the AU's special delegation. In the future, we will consider offering more help based on actual needs.

Since February, three Chinese leaders have visited Africa, including President Hu Jintao. One of the important goals of their visits was to implement the eight commitments supporting Africa's development, which were announced by China in Beijing Summit at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation last November, and pass the benefits into the hands of the African people. We will make contributions within our power to peace and development in Africa.