(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-24 19:26

KHARTOUM - A major Sudanese English-language newspaper on Sunday hailed China's stance on the issue related to Sudan's western region of Darfur and solid Sudan-China relations.

Sudan Vision, the largest English-language daily in terms of circulation, ran an editorial in both English and Chinese, the first of its kind by a newspaper in Sudan, on the day China's envoy for Darfur, Liu Guijin, arrived in the African nation on a four-day visit.

"Indeed, Chinese leadership and media refused to trail behind Western fabrications on Darfur, and have instead firmly stood in the face of pressures put on it because it is fully aware of Western attempts to capitalize on the African problem to pass its own agendas which did not change since the colonial era," the independent daily said in the editorial.

"We have every right to mock at the flawed voices attempting to link the Olympic Games China will host to the Darfur problem. Such cheap attempt will not affect the eligibility of China for hosting this international activity in the best manner," the editorial said.

"We, too, appreciate China's repeated call for political dialogue to resolve the Darfur issue, contrary to Western pressures on Sudan," it said.

"But the way Western countries dealt with the issue, providing Darfur rebels with funds, weapons and political support, made the rebels reluctant to reach peace. Not only that, the West has continued to use rebels as pawn to achieve its target," said the editorial.

A commentary by the daily's editor-in-chief, Saif Addeen al-Bashir, welcomed Liu's visit to Sudan.

"The visit comes within the context of the tremendous efforts the Envoy has been contributing to the Darfur peace process," al-Bashir wrote.

"The visit of the Envoy earns special importance in the light of the special relations between Sudan and China that have acquired strategic dimensions due to China's fair position on international issues as compared to misrepresentation of these issues by several Western countries," the commentary said.

Liu, a veteran diplomat who has been engaged in African affairs for more than 25 years, arrived in the Sudanese capital on Sunday after a visit to Britain.

Since resuming his current post, Liu has visited Sudan several times and shuttled between the United States, Britain and other countries over the Darfur issue.