The Chinese government fully supports the consensus reached by the United Nations, the African Union and the Sudanese government on the Darfur issue, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said at a press conference on Tuesday.

President Hu Jintao had clarified the Chinese government's stance on the Darfur issue in Sudan, one of the eight African countries he visited earlier this year, Li said on the sidelines of the parliamentary annual session.

The stance was welcomed by the people of Sudan and its neighboring countries and by the people of all peace-loving countries in support of justice, Li said.

The Chinese government has always maintained that different countries can have friendly negotiations on an equal footing, and China is willing to hold such dialogues with African countries and all the other countries, he said.

The Chinese government has kept offering humanitarian assistance to Sudan's Darfur area and hopes that the international community tries its best to lend a hand to the area, he said.

China, apart from seeking self-development, has tried to assist other countries to the best of its capability. "Our assistance is free of any political pressure and helps resolve specific problems, a good demonstration of China's peaceful development road and constructive role in the world," Li said.

While differentiating dialogue from interference, he cited the UN charter, which clearly stipulates a principle of non- interference in other countries' internal affairs.

"It's hard to imagine the world can maintain harmony and peaceful development if any country or international organization intends to interfere in other countries' internal affairs," the minister said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2007)