Q: The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant to Mr. Omar Al-Bashir, President of Sudan on March 4, 2009. How do you comment on this?

A: China regrets the disconcerting decision of the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for the Sudanese President. The current priority of the international community is to maintain stability in Darfur and keep pushing forward the political process and the UN/AU hybrid mission in Darfur. China opposes any actions which may interfere with the peaceful situation in Darfur and Sudan. We hope that the UN Security Council respects and listens to the calls of the members of the African Union, League of Arab States and Non-Aligned Movement, takes necessary actions according to Article 16 of the Rome Statute and requests the ICC to suspend the trial.