China has taken note of Prosecutor Bensouda’s briefing.

At present, the Darfur region of the Sudan is still facing such problems as the slowness of progress in its political process and armed groups resorting to violent means to disrupt peace and stability in the region. China appreciates the efforts of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) to engage in diplomatic good offices to actively promote the political settlement of the Darfur issue. We welcome that the Sudanese Government has signed the roadmap agreement proposed by the AUHIP. It is hoped that it will lead the opposition and armed groups, proceeding from the broad perspective of maintaining peace and stability in the Sudan, to quickly sign the road map proposal and the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur in a common effort to seek a comprehensive and political settlement of the Darfur issue. The international community should adopt an objective and fair position, play a constructive role and create favorable external conditions for the political settlement of the Darfur issue.

On the question of the Sudan and the ICC, China’s position has not changed. We welcome that the African Union (AU) has established a ministerial committee to deal with the issue of the Sudan at the ICC. We support the holding of dialogue between the Council and the AU ministerial committee so as the voices of African countries may be heard and their concerns accommodated. We believe that the legitimate concerns of the AU and its members, including the Sudanese Government, on ICC-related issues, should be fully heeded.