China said on Tuesday it would work with the international community and continue positive and constructive efforts to promote the peace process in Sudan.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu made the remarks at a regular news briefing when commenting on the multi-party general elections held in Sudan from April 11-15, in which the incumbent President Omar al-Bashir was elected for a new four-year term in office, while Chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) Salva Kiir Mayardit became president of South Sudan.

China welcomed the smooth conduct of the elections, Jiang said, adding that positive progress had been made in the peace process between North and South Sudan and the elections were conducive to the country's peace, stability and national reconciliation.

Jiang said, China fully respected the choice made by the Sudanese people and congratulated al-Bashir and Kiir respectively on their victory in the elections.

"China would like to further enhance its traditional relations of friendship and cooperation with all the Sudanese people and is ready to work with the international community to continue playing a positive and constructive role in promoting the peace process in Sudan," she said.

Around 16 million Sudanese cast their votes in the elections, put in place by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement inked between North and South Sudan in January 2005.