Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmed El-Bashir at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Nov. 2, 2006. (Xinhua Photo)  Photo Gallery >>>

    BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- China hopes the Sudanese government can strengthen dialogue with each concerned party in the Darfur conflict and try to maintain stability in the region, Chinese President Hu Jintao told his Sudanese counterpart Thursday.

    China understands the Sudanese government's concerns over the Darfur issue, Hu said when meeting Sudanese President Omer Hassan Ahmed El-Bashir, who is here for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on the China-Africa Cooperation scheduled for Nov. 4-5.

    "We hope the Sudanese government can find an appropriate settlement, maintain stability, and constantly improves the humanitarian conditions in the region," Hu said.

    China will continue to make contributions to an early realization of peace and stability in Darfur, Hu said.

    Briefing Hu on the current situation in Sudan, El-Bashir said the Sudanese government is seeking an effective cooperation mechanism with African Union (AU) and will make efforts to settle the Darfur conflict in a peaceful way.

    Hu said that the Chinese government would push forward the bilateral ties to a new level on the basis of mutual respect and benefit.

    The two countries should strengthen cooperation in the fields of communications, infrastructure construction, agriculture and water conservancy, Hu said.

    China and Sudan forged diplomatic relations on Feb. 4, 1959. Chinese President Hu Jintao met with El-Bashir in 2005 on the sidelines of Asia-Africa Summit. Bilateral trade topped 3.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2005.

    The Darfur conflict erupted in February 2003 when rebels took up arms against the government, accusing it of marginalizing the region.

    The Sudanese government has rejected a United Nations plan to send a 20,000-strong peacekeeping force to Darfur to replace the AU troops, but reiterated its commitment to full cooperation with the UN for improving the humanitarian situation in the region. In view of Sudan's persistence in its refusal, the AU decided on Sept. 20 to extend the mandate of its 7,800-strong forces in Darfur to the end of this year after it expired on Sept. 30, urging the world community to provide assistance for the cash-strapped African forces.