China on Wednesday welcomed a joint statement issued by the African Union, the United Nations and Sudan, which said Sudan had agreed on the deployment of a hybrid AU-UN force in Darfur.

"China welcomes the joint statement. The facts have shown that dialogue and equal negotiation is an effective approach to political solution of the Darfur issue, and the consultation between AU, UN and Sudan is an effective mechanism," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang.

Qin said the international community should strive to maintain the current good momentum in resolving the Darfur issue, promote comprehensive implementation of the Annan plan and political process of Darfur in a balanced way, help Sudan improve the humanitarian and security situation in Darfur and promote proper settlement of the Darfur issue as soon as possible.

Qin added that China is ready to continue to play an active and constructive role in the settlement of the Darfur issue, and will work together with the international community to promote the early realization of peace, stability and development in Darfur.

AU, UN and Sudanese officials started a closed-door consultative meeting in Addis Ababa Monday to discuss the deployment of a hybrid force of between 17,000 to 19,000 troops in Darfur.

The three parties issued a joint statement Tuesday, which said Khartoum had accepted the deployment of the hybrid AU-UN force for Darfur.