China expressed "grim concern" for the escalation of conflicts between Sudan and South Sudan, and has again called for the two sides to immediately end such conflicts, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said Thursday.

Liu said during a regular press briefing that China has called for the two countries to respect each other's sovereignty. He asked the two sides to keep both the long-term and general situations in mind and maintain maximum calmness and restraint, enhance mutual trust, actively cooperate with the mediation efforts of the international community and resume negotiations and dialogue as soon as possible. Liu said the two countries should work to ease the situation at an early date.

Liu said China has done a lot of work to ease disagreements between Sudan and South Sudan, and China will work with the international community to continue to push for reconciliation and talks.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Wednesday declared war on South Sudan and vowed to bring down the government of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Juba amid escalating military confrontations on the border between the two countries.

The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday reiterated its call for Sudan to stop air strikes and for South Sudan to withdraw from the Heglig oil field near the border between the two countries.

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