Soldiers from Zambia serving with the international peacekeeping operation patrol on the ground in the region of Abyei, central Sudan, in this handout picture released by the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) May 30, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING - China said Tuesday it welcomes an agreement reached by north and south Sudan to withdraw their troops from the country's disputed oil-rich area of Abyei.

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Media reports said that the leaders from the north and the south have recently held talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and agreed to withdraw their troops by July 9 from Abyei.

"The Chinese side has noted the recent development of the Abyei situation and exchanged views with the parties involved," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular news briefing.

"We appreciate that the leaders of both north and south Sudan adhere to the peace option and welcome all moves that help ease tensions in the area of Abyei," Hong said.

"We hope that north and south Sudan will commit themselves to calmness, exercise self-restraint and adopt the principle of dialogue to resolve the outstanding issues between them," he added.