CHINA has told a group of local and international journalists currently in Beijing that Zimbabweans are able to solve their own problems without outside interference and Zimbabwe can realize stability and prosperity on its own.

Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry's deputy director general, Qin Gang, told the journalists on Sunday that Zimbabweans were capable of solving their problems without interference from the outside world.

Speaking at an international press conference in Beijing, China, US Deputy Assistant Secretaries, Thomas Christensen and James Swan, pressed China to take a tough stance on Zimbabwe like western countries had done.

"China has all along upheld the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs," said Gang.

"We believe that people of Zimbabwe are capable of addressing their own questions and Zimbabwe can realize stability and development," Gang told a group of 22 journalists from English speaking Africa who are visiting China at the invitation of that country's government.

The two-week professional tour is also aimed at promoting mutual understanding and friendly relations between China and African countries.

Gang said that China would like to see a speedy resolution of the crisis in Darfur (Sudan).

"China supports the proper resolution of the Darfur issue through dialogue and consultation based on respecting Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We have made proactive efforts to this end, including sending peacekeeping engineering unit to the Darfur region," said Gang.

He continued, "I could share with you more information in this regard. China has committed to sending a 315-member engineering unit, among which 143 have already been deployed there.

"The rest will leave for Darfur once the UN equipment is ready. I can assure you that China's efforts for the proper resolution of the Darfur issue are by no means less or weaker than any other country.

"It is imperative to further promote the proper settlement of the issue by the tri-partite coordination mechanism of the Sudanese Government, the African Union and the United Nations, to press ahead with in a balanced way the double-track strategy of political negotiation and peacekeeping deployment in particular. We hope countries, those having concerns over the Darfur issue in particular could make further efforts together with China."