China's special envoy to Sudan has indicated that Beijing has privately exerted pressure on Khartoum over the conflict in Darfur, sometimes using "very direct language". His comments...come amid...speculation that China is growing concerned at the potential threat the crisis poses to its commercial interests in Sudan and to the success of the 2008 Beijing Olympics...Mr Liu's comments chime with the impression of western officials that Beijing has become more active in seeking solutions to the conflict, which has claimed more than 200,000 lives and displaced 2m people since 2003..."We are pushing for the long-term solution. We are pushing for the restoration of peace and stability not selfishly only for the benefit of Chinese oil companies but for the peace of the region."