The accusation by some countries about China's arms sales to Sudan fuelling the conflict is groundless, said Liu Guijin, special representative of the Chinese government on the Darfur issue on Friday.

Liu told a press conference that among a total of seven countries exporting arms to Sudan, China only accounted for 8 percent of the country's arms imports in 2006. US, Russia and UK were the biggest arms exporters to the developing nations, including Sudan.

In addition, he said the United Nations and the international community had not yet exerted arms embargo or regulations on Sudan.

As the third largest African producer of conventional weapons and ammunition, Sudan was capable of making a large part of the weapons and ammunition it needs, he noted.

Liu said China never sold arms to any non-state entity, and it limited the functions and numbers of arms export to other countries; All export arms had user certificates and could not be exported to the third country.

According to figures released by the US Congressional Research Service in September 2007, the United States remained the world's largest seller of conventional arms to developing countries in 2006, with 36 percent of the total.

It was followed by Russia with 28 percent, Britain 11 percent, Germany 6 percent and China, only 3 percent, said Liu.

China has participated in the UN Military Transparency Mechanism and it has been providing the requested data for the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, he added.

Liu's press conference came after he concluded his visit to Britain, Sudan, Chad and France which started from late February to early March to help resolve the Darfur issue.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2008)