A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday that the country had always made and was making positive efforts on solving the Darfur issue.

"China's efforts on Darfur are no worse than and no less than any other country in the world," ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular press conference in Beijing.

His remark came after two senior U.S. officials' comment on China's role on the issue.

According to reports, Thomas Christensen and James Swan, deputy assistant secretaries of state for East Asia and Africa, respectively, on Wednesday praised China for its efforts on Darfur issue. They added China could do much more on it.

Qin said China had always advanced to solve the Darfur issue through dialogue and consultation on the basis of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan.

China has promised to send a 315-man peacekeeping engineering unit. "So far, the first team of 143 engineers has already been dispatched to Darfur and is undertaking its jobs. The rest will depart as soon as the United Nations sends relevant equipment there," Qin said.

He said the top priority at present was to promote the resolution of the Darfur issue via the three-party mechanism of the Sudanese government, African Union and the United Nations, and the double-track strategy of peacekeeping actions and the political process moving forward together in balance.

Qin also called for joint efforts from relevant countries, especially those that are concerned about the Darfur issue.

(Xinhua News Agency June 6, 2008)