China voiced hope in Beijing on Thursday that the International Criminal Court (ICC)'s measures should be conducive to the stability of Sudan and help properly resolve the Darfur issue.

"I want to reiterate that the justice and fairness in Darfur cannot be realized without the long-term peace and stability in this area," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told the regular briefing on Thursday.

He said China would decide on its next moves on the Darfur-issue based on that standpoint.

According to Qin, the special representative of the Chinese government for Darfur Liu Guijin is visiting Sudan. He already visited Russia and will travel to Ethiopia, exchanging views with countries concerned about the Darfur issue and the ICC's prosecution against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

In mid-July, the ICC's prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo filed 10 charges against al-Bashir, including three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder. The prosecutor accused al-Bashir of masterminding a campaign to get rid of the African tribes of Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa in Darfur.

On July 31, China urged the UN Security Council to suspend the ICC's indictment of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

"The proposed indictment of the Sudanese leader by the ICC prosecutor is an inappropriate decision made at an inappropriate time, "China's then UN Ambassador Wang Guangya said. "It will seriously undermine the mutual political trust and cooperation between the UN and the Sudanese government."

(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2009)