CHINESE envoy for the Darfur issue said yesterday that it's unfair to politicize China's normal oil cooperation with Sudan.

China and Sudan have conducted transparent, mutually beneficial and non-exclusive cooperation since 1996, Liu Guijin said at a news conference in Beijing.

"China's normal oil cooperation with Sudan is politicized. It is unfair," said Liu.

China's cooperation with Sudan on oil exploration helps boost the economic growth and resolve war-led chaos and social disturbance in Sudan, Liu said.

He said that China and other countries jointly established the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Co. China National Petroleum Cooperation holds only a small percentage of stake in the joint venture compared with the companies from other countries.

Liu assumed his current post earlier this month and paid a fact-finding tour to the west Sudanese region of Darfur from May 19 to 23, meeting with senior officials of the Sudanese government.