Chadian president meets Chinese special envoy

NDJAMENA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno told Chinese special envoy Liu Guijin that he hoped the Chinese experts and business people who withdrew from Chad during a recent rebel attack would return at an early date and that bilateral cooperation projects be resumed.

Chad has high hopes for and full confidence in its cooperation with China, Deby said during a meeting Monday with Liu, the Chinese special envoy for African affairs and Darfur, in the Chadian capital of Ndjamena,

At the meeting, Deby spoke highly of the positive achievements made in the bilateral friendly cooperation in various fields since Chad and China restored their diplomatic relations on Aug. 6, 2006,according to a press release from the Chinese embassy in Ndjamena.

He appealed to Chinese experts, entrepreneurs and those with other jobs, who left Chad during a recent rebel attack on Ndjamena, to return to Chad at an early date so that bilateral cooperation projects could be resumed, saying calm has returned to the country and the security situation has notably improved.

Liu, who arrived here after paying visits to Britain and Sudan, said China-Chad friendly and cooperative ties have been growing rapidly since the resumption of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Meanwhile, he expressed concerns over the recent chaos in Chad and offered deep sympathies to the victims of the violence.

Liu reiterated China's support for the stand of the African Union and the United Nations on the Chad issue, and the efforts of the Chadian government and people to maintain their country's stability.

China would like to resume the cooperation projects, which came to a halt due to the recent violence, as soon as possible once conditions permit, Liu said.

They also exchanged views on the Darfur issue.

Deby said some 300,000 Sudanese refugees now are staying in eastern Chad, causing many political and social problems for Chad.

He said Chad appreciated China's role in helping resolve the Darfur issue, especially its efforts to persuade the Sudanese government to accept the deployment of the UN-African Union hybrid peacekeeping troops in Darfur.

The Darfur issue is complex and a lasting and proper settlement calls for the joint efforts of the Sudanese government, the rebels in Darfur as well as Sudan's neighboring countries and the international community, Liu said.

China is ready to continue to play its constructive role in efforts to resolve the issue, he added.