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Over 100 MPs signed the following letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao. Mark Lancaster MP, Shadow Minister for International Development, and Lynne Featherstone MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for International Development delivered the letter to the Chinese Embassy on October 29th (download the Messages Delivered in the Meeting here). The Embassy expressed concern at the tone of media coverage following the letter, understood that the initiative was positive in intent, but also recognised that there are issues that require further discussion. Indeed, the meeting was constructive, key messages were delivered, and further cooperation will result. Indeed, the Chinese Embassy are working towards a possible meeting between members and Liu Guijin, China’s Special Representative on the Darfur issue.

Text of Letter:

President Hu Jintao

People’s Republic of China

Zhongnanhai, Xichengqu, Beijing,

People’s Republic of China

Date: 29th October 2007

Dear President Hu,

We write as UK parliamentarians to congratulate the Chinese government on its positive stance in voting for UN Security Council Resolution 1769 related to the deployment of African Union UN troops in Sudan’s Darfur region.

We celebrate the fact that China joined in the unanimous UN Security Council vote to authorise, under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, deployment of 26000 civilian police and troops to Darfur. Chapter 7 authority is critical to the ability of the deploying force to protect itself, civilians, and humanitarian workers. Your support is a key step in enabling an international response to the security crisis in Darfur.

We also welcome and recognise China’s appointment of an envoy to Darfur and commend China for sending 275 engineers to the region as part of the heavy support package. Furthermore, we recognise Liu Guijin’s particular contribution to the search for a pragmatic and feasible solution to getting an adequate peacekeeping force into Darfur. However, much more must be done to ensure civilian protection in Darfur. For the reasons outlined below, China is in a key position to now persuade the Government of Sudan to: withdraw immediately its well documented support for attacks on civilians; give aid operations the freedom to work unhindered; abide by existing ceasefire arrangements; disarm militia; to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Court; and support a truly inclusive, comprehensive, and accountable AU-UN peace process that does not repeat the deadline diplomacy of the past. We are also keen to see China review its longstanding policy of providing, and financing, arms sales to the Government of Sudan to ensure that it is not contributing to the security crisis in Darfur.

We believe China has a special role and responsibility in ensuring Sudan’s cooperation with UNAMID. This role reflects your country’s importance as a world leader and its role in ensuring Sudan complies with the United Nations Security Council Resolution that clearly carries your support. This role is especially elevated this month as your country chairs the United Nations Security Council and over the next year as host of the upcoming Olympics. We urge China now to work with its international partners to ensure that there is no obstruction by Khartoum to the deployment of this force. Estimates of the number killed in Darfur range from 200 000 to 400 000, the conflict has already spread to other countries, and some four million people are displaced from their homes. Your active involvement over the next year in bringing an end to this suffering will help to strengthen the stature of the Beijing Olympic Games, and the world’s perception of China.

Once again, we congratulate you for your support for Resolution 1769, which presents Khartoum with an unambiguous demand from the international community to allow expedited deployment of security personnel; and we urge you to exert your global leadership role both bilaterally and within the United Nations to ensure that there is no obstruction by Khartoum to the deployment of this force.

Yours sincerely,

Net total MPs and Peers = 127