China welcomes cease-fire agreement in South Sudan

BEIJING -- China welcomes a cease-fire agreement signed between South Sudan's warring parties on Monday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman on Tuesday.

China appreciates great efforts made by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in the process, spokesman Hong Lei told a daily press briefing.

"We sincerely hopes that the warring parties can earnestly implement all the agreements that were already signed, solve disputes at an early date and will not miss the hard-won peace opportunity again," said Hong.

China has actively promoted the peace process in South Sudan, he said.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended and offered suggestions at a special consultation proposed by China on supporting IGAD's mediation on South Sudan peace process during his visit to Africa last month.

Under the mediation of the IGAD, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and his opposition, former vice president Riek Machar, signed a cease-fire agreement in the early hours of Monday to end the conflict that erupted in December 2013 in the world's newest nation.