The Chinese ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan Mr. Ma Qiang said the warring parties should use this round of peace talks in Addis Ababa to form a transitional government of National Unity that will seek common ground and shelve differences.
Leaders of South Sudan’s warring factions SPLA-Juba and SPLA-IO were scheduled to convene a mini-summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa today on how to end the crisis.
“A transitional government should be formed as soon as possible,” Qiang said. “Both parties should build on the existing negotiations on outcomes, seize the opportunity, show sincerity, and accelerate negotiations on easy things and seeking common ground while shelving differences.”
Speaking exclusively to Radio Tamazuj Wednesday at the Chinese Embassy in Juba, Qiang said the conflicting parties should safeguard the realistic and long-term interests of reaching comprehensive ceasefire without any precondition, and that China would continue to help in the process.
“China is a promoter, advocate and participant of the peace process in South Sudan,” he said. “The situation has come to a critical point, and all the parties should step up the sense of urgency, put more weight on the overall interests, take concrete actions, and properly resolve the South Sudan issues as soon as possible”.
The Chinese ambassador explained that the humanitarian situation in South Sudan should be alleviated as soon as possible in order to provide international humanitarian access. Qiang said his government will continue to support the ongoing peace process under the IGAD umbrella.
Arms sale to South Sudan
Asked if China is selling arms to the SPLA-Juba faction, Qiang said: “We stick to the three principles of arms export to make sure that it only improves self-defense capacity of the recipient nations instead of interfering in their internal affairs and undermining regional and global peace, security, and stability.”
Qiang added that the Chinese government has always been cautious on arms deals with South Sudan given the special circumstances with the ongoing conflict.
Last July, China sold 38 million dollars’ worth of weapons to the Juba government, but later said they would halt future arms shipments.
Qiang added that peace is necessary to fully develop South Sudan’s oil industry. Chinese companies have been invested in the sector for more than three years, he said.
“It is a win-win investment for both South Sudan and China, more beneficial for South Sudan especially,” he said. “But development needs peaceful and stable environment.”
Radio Tamazuj Photo: Chinese Ambassdor to South Sudan speaks in an interview with Radio Tamazuj 28 Jan. 2015