Visiting special envoy of Chinese government and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhai Jun expressed his optimism about the prospects of solving Sudan's Darfur issue on Monday.

Zhai Jun voiced his optimism during a joint interview with Chinese and foreign journalists during which he spelled out the Chinese government's positions on the Darfur issue.

The special envoy also answered questions on the situation in the western Sudanese region, the prospects of the political process, the role of China and so on.

Zhai, who visited North and South Darfur on Saturday, said situation in the region was generally stable though quite a number of problems still existed.

He said the Darfur issue should be resolved in three aspects, namely pressing ahead with the political process in order to achieve a comprehensive peace as soon as possible, offering humanitarian aid to the region to alleviate and eventually terminate the humanitarian crisis, and helping people of Darfur get rid of poverty and uproot the fundamental causes of the conflict.

"I am always optimistic about the prospects of solving the Darfur issue," the Chinese envoy noted.

Zhai said the Chinese side supports a three-phase proposal put forward by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on the Darfur issue and regards it as a realistic and feasible one.

He expressed hope that the Sudanese side and other concerned parties would hold consultations as equals on its details and reach a consensus as soon as possible.

He stressed that any step taken by the parties concerned should help in solving the problem rather than escalating the problem or even creating new problems.

"The Chinese side is not in favor of measures such as exerting pressures or imposing sanctions as they are not helpful for solving the problem," he said, underlining the importance of holding consultations and dialogue on the basis of equality.

Zhai said China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is a friend of Sudan, adding that it is an obligation for his government in any case to play a constructive role in achieving an appropriate solution for the Darfur issue.

Zhai and his delegation arrived in Khartoum Friday on a four- day official visit to Sudan.

During the visit, the Chinese envoy held meetings with Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir and high-ranking government officials. He also paid a one-day visit to Darfur.

Source: Xinhua