"If the president was a criminal, how could the opposition faction consider him as a credible negotiator to seek political reconciliation?" Liu said the arrest warrant sent a wrong signal for the rebel movements.

Both Liu and Qin expressed China's hope that the UN Security Council would respect and listen to the appeal of the AU, the League of Arab States and members of the Non-Aligned Movement, take necessary actions according to the Article 16 of the Rome Statute, and demand the ICC suspend the investigation or prosecution of the case.

According to the Article 16 of the Rome Statute, signed in 1998 and implemented in 2002, the Security Council, under the UN Charter, has the power to suspend ICC investigations or prosecutions for up to one year at a time.

The League of Arab States said it was "deeply concerned" about and "greatly disturbed" by the ICC decision, and voiced its support for the sovereignty of Sudan. The AU said the decision would impede Sudan's peace process.

Sudan's envoy to the UN said the warrant was neither surprising nor justified, and the country would not cooperate with the tribunal.

The European Union urged the Sudanese government to cooperate with the court while the United States called on all sides to exercise restraint.

Liu called on the international community to continue its efforts in pushing forward the implementation of the UN Security Council 1769 resolution, in which the United Nations decided to start a joint AU-UN peacekeeping mission with a 12-month term.

The international community should overcome difficulties in logistics and equipment, and fully deploy the joint peacekeeping mission as soon as possible, he said.

He also called on the international community to push for a cease-fire in Darfur at an early date, and achieve a comprehensive peaceful agreement through political negotiation. And the international community should help Sudan to improve the humanitarian and security situation in Darfur and offer assistance for reconstruction and development.

Liu said China had made wide communication and negotiation with relevant parties, in efforts to get the issue solved properly, since the chief prosecutor of the ICC brought a prosecution against the Sudanese president last year.

Qin told the press conference that China, as the Security Council's permanent member and a responsible country, will continue to maintain close communication with all parties concerned.

The spokesman also expressed China's will to continue to develop a friendly and cooperative relationship with Sudan.

"China and Sudan have developed a long-term peaceful, friendly and cooperative relationship based on mutual respect, equality, reciprocity and the principles set forth in the UN Charter.

"The relationship is conducive to the two peoples and the region's peace and stability. China will continue to develop such a relationship with Sudan," Qin said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2009)