China hopes the referendum to be held in southern Sudan will be conducted in a transparent and fair way and reflect the aspirations and choice of the Sudanese people, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said Tuesday.

No matter what results the referendum were, China believed the top priority lay in maintaining peace and stability in Sudan and the region, Xi said at a meeting with visiting Sudanese Foreign Minister Ahmed Ali Karti.

Xi expressed the wish that the Darfur issue would be resolved properly at an early date.

During the meeting in the Great Hall of the People, Xi reiterated China's stance on supporting the north and south sides of Sudan in steadily pushing forward the north-south peace process through dialogue and friendly consultation.

Xi said he wished Sudan long-standing peace and stability and appreciated the Sudanese government's efforts to achieve peace and national reconciliation.

Xi said that since the two countries established official links more than half a century ago, China and Sudan had advanced traditional relations of friendship and cooperation, with rich results in cooperation, close consultations on regional and international affairs and increasing exchanges within multilateral frameworks.

"China-Sudan relations have become an example of South-South cooperation," Xi said.

Xi expressed readiness to further advance friendly and cooperative relations between China and Sudan in an all-round and extensive way, saying China cherished the friendship and cooperation of Sudan.

Karti said Sudan was at a critical stage of history. He said the Sudanese government was ready to live up to its duty, continue to advance the north-south peace process and properly resolve the Darfur issue.

According to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that the north and south of Sudan signed in 2005, two referenda will be conducted in January 2011: one on self-determination for south Sudan and one to decide whether the Abyei area shall be part of Bahral-Ghazal State in southern Sudan or the North Kordofan State in northern Sudan.

The signing of the CPA ended a two-decade civil war.

China has always supported the unity of Sudan according to principles of the CPA.

"China is happy to see Sudan remains united because that is the basic principle of the CPA to make unity attractive. At the same time, we will respect the choice of the Sudanese people, the option of the Sudanese people," Chinese special envoy to Darfur Liu Guijin said during a trip to Sudan in July.

China has been urging the international community to work for a political resolution of the Darfur issue so as to maintain peace and stability in Sudan and the region.

Karti said China was an intimate friend of Sudan. He emphasized Sudan's firm adherence to the one-China policy, saying Sudan was ready to further strengthen the ties with China.

Karti arrived in Beijing Monday for an official visit. This was his first official trip to the country since becoming foreign minister.

During his stay in Beijing, Karti held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Tuesday morning.