1. Introduction

In May 1997 the Alliance of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo headed by Laurent-Desire Kabila overthrew by force the Zairian Mobutu regime and restored the country's former name - the Democratic Republic of Congo--to be called Congo (Kinshasa) for short. In August 1998 the soldiers from the Banyamulumgue tribe in the eastern part of Congo (Kinshasa) launched a massive armed rebellion against the Kabila government. Uganda and Rwanda sent troops to support the anti-government rebellious forces - the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) and the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD). Soon after that, Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia sent troops at the request of the Kabila government and helped save the once critical situation. The two belligerent sides were locked in a military confrontation. This confrontation has become an armed conflict in the region. At present, Uganda, Rwanda and the anti-government armed forces have put the eastern and northern parts of Congo under their control, accounting for over 50% of the country's territory. The government forces and the troops from Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia made strong defense in the western and southern parts of the country.

The conflict in Congo (Kinshasa) has aroused serious concern of the international community. Between July and August 1999, the conflicting sides of the Congolese question signed the Lusaka Peace Agreement. The contents of the Agreement include cease-fire, establishing a joint military commission, demobilizing unlawful forces, withdrawing foreign troops, deploying UN peacekeeping forces and holding the national dialogue in Congo (Kinshasa). Following that, the two conflicting sides also signed a series of agreements on cease-fire, disengagement and troops withdraw, and made promises to implement these agreements. The Security Council has passed several resolutions on the Congolese question, approving deployment of 5500 military observers and protection forces in Congo (Kinshasa) and demanding that foreign forces from Uganda and Rwanda withdraw from Congo.

So far, the relevant agreements reached by the two sides and resolutions passed in the Security Council have not yet been observed nor implemented. Small-scale conflicts on the battlefield between the two belligerent sides kept on occurring. The UN peacekeeping moves have been seriously held back.

On January 16, 2001, President Kabila of Congo (Kinshasa) was assassinated; and Josef Kabila succeeded his father as president of the country. The new president after taking office expressed that he would make efforts to restore peace in the country, and is ready to hold direct talks with the belligerent sides and conduct national dialogues. At the same time, the international community started a new round of mediation efforts. New changes in the Congolese confrontation is expected in the coming months.

2. The Position of the Chinese Government

The Chinese Government maintains that the conflict should be brought to an early end, so that peace, stability and security in Congo (Kinshasa) as well in the region and the good-neighborly relations among the countries can be restored, through negotiations and consultations on the basis of respecting the sovereign and territorial integrity of the country, and in accordance with the spirit of African unity and national reconciliation. China appreciates the international community, the UN, regional organizations and relevant countries in particular, for their efforts aiming at solving the Congolese question peacefully. The Chinese Government supports the UN to exercise its peacekeeping moves in Congo (Kinshasa) as early as possible. The Chinese Government has noticed that relevant sides have expressed to continue the peace process in line with the Lusaka Agreement; and that the Congolese government and the new President also expressed to maintain close cooperation with the UN peace-keeping mission to promote the political solution of the Congolese question, following the passing away of the former president. The Chinese Government wishes that the relevant sides should fulfil their commitments on cease-fire and troop withdrawing, and observe and implement the related resolutions adopted in the Security Council. They should earnestly conduct national dialogs and enhance mutual confidence to strive for new progress in the peace process. China, as a permanent member in the Security Council, will as always make her constructive contributions to an early solution to the Congolese question.