During a visit to Beijing University, Britain’s foreign minister called on China to play a more positive role in Darfur and to “be a force for good”. From Reuters, via The Guardian:
China should not fear working with other countries to put pressure on “faltering states”, Britain’s foreign minister said on Friday in an indirect plea for Beijing to do more with countries such as Sudan and Myanmar.
Miliband, speaking at the tailend of a trip to Hong Kong and China, said it was in everyone’s interest to deal with these countries, lest they destabilise their neighbours.
China traditionally avoids supporting international sanctions, saying it prefers dialogue and does not wish to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry says solving the Darfur crisis is not China’s responsibility alone. From AP:
Spokesman Liu Jianchao said a recent visit to Sudan by China’s special envoy on Darfur, Liu Guijin, shows Beijing’s determination to help. But he said it was not fair to expect Beijing to bring about a solution on its own.
“The resolution of this cannot rely on the efforts of the Chinese government,” Liu said. “The international community should shoulder the same responsibility to, in particular, promote the relevant groups to implement the agreement reached for this issue.”
See also “Be a force for good in world, China told” from The Times.
