BEIJING - A Foreign Ministry spokesman on Monday said China welcomes positive gestures recently made by Sudan and South Sudan, urging them to maintain negotiations.

"China welcomes the positive gestures made by Sudan and South Sudan to resolve their differences," spokesman Hong Lei said at a daily press briefing.

Hong's comments came after Sudan President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir and President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit held a meeting on Friday and Saturday in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia.

The two nations agreed to speed up formation of the civil institutions for the disputed area of Abyei and set timetables for the implementation of the cooperation deal signed by the two countries in September last year.

China expects both sides to start from the fundamental interests of both nations and regional peace and stability, carry out their signed agreements, maintain momentum in their negotiations and resolve unsettled issues at an early date, Hong said.