Chinese observers of an independence referendum in southern Sudan have described it as a "peaceful and orderly" vote, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.

Chinese observers have traveled to Khartoum, Juba, Wau and other places in Sudan, said ministry spokesman Hong Lei at a regular news briefing.

He said the observers had met officials from both north and south Sudan, as well as officials with the South Sudan Referendum Commission.

They had also contacted heads of the missions from the United Nations, the African Union and the Arab League, Hong said.

Under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed between north and south Sudan in January 2005, Sudan's southerners began voting on Jan. 9 on whether the south should remain united with the north or secede to establish an independent state.