On the afternoon of September 18, 2004, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1564 on the Darfur issue in Sudan. China, Russia, Pakistan and Algeria abstained from voting on the resolution. Over a period of time, all parties have been concerned with the resolution on the Darfur issue. After the adoption of the resolution, correspondents of the Xinhua News Agency interviewed exclusively Permanent Representative of China to the UN Ambassador Wang Guangya.

Q: Why did China abstain from voting on the resolution?

A: Since the out-breaking of the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region, the international community has been following the issue closely, hoping to identify an appropriate solution to the issue as quickly as possible while avoiding inflicting more miseries on local civilians. The humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region is indeed very serious, for which the Sudanese government must take effective measures so as to alleviate the crisis as quickly as possible. At the same time, the international community should make concerted efforts to provide assistance. Over the past months, UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan and some countries have sent delegations to Darfur for inspection tours, and Secretary General Kofi Annan even formulated a Plan of Action jointly with the Sudanese government. With the joint efforts of all parties, including the Sudanese government, the situation in Darfur is turning for the better. This is an objective reality that has been recognized by all parties. Under such circumstances, we maintain that the international community should focus on encouraging and urging the Sudanese Government to intensify its efforts and create favorable conditions for it. All in all, the solution to the Darfur issue depends ultimately on the Sudanese government and people. The objectives of different parties of the international community to help resolve the Darfur issue are common, but the key is how to make the actions more effective. Merely exerting pressure on the Sudanese government does not help the resolution of the issue. This can be compared with the treatment of patients by doctors. Different doctors make different inscriptions, some of which may help the patients eliminate the illnesses and resume health, while some may make the case worse and even pose a threat to the lives of the patients. The key to the solution to the Darfur issue is to suit the inscription to the case. Obviously, it is hardly possible to realize the above-mentioned goals with the inscription given by the U.S. Therefore we abstained from voting.

Q: It is said that the draft resolution had been put forward a certain period of time ago, and there are a lot of changes in the one adopted compared with the original draft due to the intense tussling in front of and behind the scene. What role did China play in the process?

A: Compared with the original draft, the resolution adopted by the Security Council was indeed modified in many places. The draft tabled by the U.S. was too one-sided and imbalanced, disregarding the efforts already made by Sudan, ran counter to the Secretary General's report and the judgment of the situation by the Special Representative of the Secretary General, and contained a lot of content that exerts excessive pressure on the Sudanese government. Accordingly, most of the Security Council members indicated that they could not accept the draft, which is natural, and that the draft resolution must be modified in many places. During the consultations, related countries, including China, made a lot of positive proposals and urged the submitter of the draft to accept the proposals. With the concerted efforts of all parties, the modified draft incorporated wordings like "respect Sudanese sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unification", recognized the measures and progress already made by the Sudanese government, put an emphasis on the leading role of the African Union (AU), avoided indiscreet remarks or criticisms directed against the AU, and added requirements towards the rebel groups of Sudan. At the same time, it deleted the part on international air surveillance over the Darfur region, and weakened the parts on criticisms against Sudan and on the establishment of no-fly zone.

It must be particularly noted that the original draft implied content of automatic implementation of sanctions against Sudan, which was challenged by China, Russia, Pakistan and Algeria. Secretary General Annan didn't agree to it, either. Due to pressures from various parties, especially the explicit stance of our country to oppose sanctions, the submitter of the draft made important modifications to related content. First, the text clearly says that there will not be automatic implementation of sanctions against Sudan. Second, if measures are to be taken, the AU should be consulted first. Third, the measures should be finally reviewed again by the Security Council before decision is made. Under such circumstances, and given that the major content of the resolution is to support the expansion of deployment of the AU in Darfur, China has refrained from blocking the adoption of the draft resolution, based on support for the role of the AU.

Q: Will the interests of Chinese enterprises in Sudan be affected by this resolution?

A: No. It is an important task of our diplomatic work to safeguard our national interests, including the interests of Chinese enterprises in foreign countries. In the process of consultations on the draft resolution, we have always borne in mind our national interests in Sudan, according to the instructions of the central leadership. It is our bottom line not to jeopardize our national interests. Actually the submitter of the draft was very clear about this. It can be said that the wordings of the adopted resolution can ensure that the interests of Chinese enterprises in Sudan will not be harmed.

Q: It seems that the Darfur issue will remain one of the major concerns of the Security Council. What is your view of the prospects?

A: The causes of the Darfur issue are very complicated, with its core being realizing peace and alleviating the humanitarian crisis. Only by political negotiations can a comprehensive agreement be reached, and can the Darfur region realize lasting peace. In the process, it first depends on the efforts and cooperation by the Sudanese government. Second, the leading role of the AU should continue being given full play. Third, the international community should provide as much material and financial assistance as possible. It should be emphasized that Sudan is one of the least developed countries in the world. Therefore, instead of helping solve the complicated problems, sanctions can only inflict more miseries on the Sudanese people and may make the situation even more complicated. So the Chinese government is firmly opposed to economic sanctions against Sudan.

Finally, Wang Guangya reiterated that the Chinese government has made active efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis in Darfur and that China will continue working together with the international community to promote the early and proper settlement of the Darfur issue.