As peace talks between South Sudan's government and rebels started in Ethiopia on Monday, China has urged South Sudan's warring sides to seek a reasonable and rational solution to their conflict and to restore the rule of law and order.

China is gravely concerned about the recent clashes in South Sudan, and hopes that both sides, in accordance with the comprehensive and long-term interest of the South Sudanese people, can agree to end the violence, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi after meeting separately with representatives of South Sudan's warring sides in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.

China is the largest investor in South Sudan, where it has great petroleum interests. South Sudan is estimated to have sub-Saharan Africa's third-biggest oil reserves, up to 3.5 billion barrels, and its highest daily output has been 250,000 barrels. In 2012 China imported 70 percent of South Sudan's crude oil, and Chinese petroleum enterprises have a 40 percent share in South Sudan's petroleum pipeline. Like the situation during Libya's civil war two years ago, Chinese people's personal and property safety in South Sudan have been threatened, and more than 300 Chinese people have been evacuated from South Sudan to neighboring countries. Because of this, some foreign media have claimed that China is the biggest victim of the conflict and now in a predicament.