The positive impact China has made on the Sudan peace process has been larger than that of any other country despite accusations from the West that it has not done much to stem conflict in the African country, a senior Sudanese official said yesterday.

"In my opinion, China has played the most positive role (in Sudan) among countries outside the region," visiting Advisor of the President of Sudan, Mustafa Ismail, told reporters at a press conference in Beijing.

In sharp contrast, some Western countries have been playing up the Darfur issue as a conflict between the Arab and the African groups, to impose pressure on the Sudanese government for their own interests, Ismail said.