China has called for an immediate cease-fire in South Sudan and for a rational solution from peace talks between the government and rebels.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks on Dec 6 in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, where he met delegations of South Sudan's government and rebels.

"As a friend of South Sudan, China is willing to play a constructive role in pushing forward the peace talks between the two sides," Wang said.

Peace talks between the South Sudanese warring parties continued the next day with discussions on a possible cease-fire and the release of prisoners.

The talks, brokered by the East African regional bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development, are aimed at ending more than three weeks of fighting.

The fighting erupted on Dec 15, pitting army units loyal to President Salva Kiir against a loose alliance of ethnic militia forces and mutinous army commanders nominally headed by former vice-president Riek Machar, who was sacked in July.

A key sticking point has been rebel and international demands that the South Sudanese government release 11 officials close to Machar so they can take part in the talks.

China Daily - Agence France-Presse

(China Daily Africa Weekly 01/10/2014 page2)