China's President Xi Jinping on Tuesday welcomed Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir -- who has been indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court -- as an "old friend of the Chinese people".

Bashir is one of the foreign heads of state attending a huge military parade on Thursday to mark the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. Major western leaders have shunned the event.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) indicted Bashir over war crimes and crimes against humanity in 2009 and on genocide charges in 2010, all relating to the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region.

"You are an old friend of the Chinese people," Xi said after shaking hands with Bashir and a procession of Sudanese government officials accompanying him.

He stressed that China has long been the African country's biggest trade partner and largest investor.

"China and Sudan are like two brothers that are also good friends and partners," Xi said.

China's foreign ministry defended itself against accusations that inviting an indicted war criminal to a parade billed as a celebration of peace was contradictory.

"China is not a signatory to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court," spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular briefing.

"African people including the people of Sudan made important contributions during the World Anti-Fascist War," she added, using the Chinese government's name for World War II.

Bashir has regularly travelled to Sudan's neighbours but rarely makes long-distance trips that could see him exposed to possible arrest.

"For Sudan and China, cooperation in politics, economics and culture and many more fields have all had good results," he told Xi before closed-door talks.

The US expressed concern on Monday over Bashir's trip to China, with State Department spokesman Mark Toner saying: "We oppose invitations, facilitation or support for travel by persons subject to outstanding ICC warrants."

Bashir last travelled to China, which has significant interests in Sudan's oil sector and supports his government, in 2011.

The Darfur conflict erupted in 2003 when ethnic insurgents rebelled against the Arab-dominated Khartoum government, complaining of marginalisation.

It has left 300,000 dead and some 2.5 million displaced, according to UN figures, and Bashir's forces have been accused of large-scale atrocities against civilians.

China says it has a policy of non-interference in other countries' domestic affairs, and it has often built up close relations with governments ostracised by others on grounds such as human rights.

China and Sudan signed two agreements on Tuesday. One was a joint statement on building a strategic partnership signed by Xi and Bashir, with the second covering cooperation in space flight technology.

US warns South Sudan warring parties on ceasefire
Washington (AFP) Sept 1, 2015 - The United States on Tuesday warned both sides fighting in South Sudan to down arms or face sanctions that have already been authorized by the UN Security Council.

A truce aimed at ending the brutal civil war between government and rebel forces in South Sudan, the world's newest nation and one of its most troubled, came into effect on Saturday.

But rebel leader Riek Machar has already accused President Salva Kiir's forces of breaking the ceasefire and the peace process is in danger, while 200,000 civilians are sheltering in UN bases.

The US State Department did not attribute blame for the latest fighting but demanded that it cease and reminded the warring parties that the Security Council has already approved sanctions.

"The United States condemns the recent fighting in Jonglei State and Upper Nile State in South Sudan," deputy spokesman Mark Toner said.

"Anyone acting to spoil the peace agreement implementation will face consequences." A UN Security Council resolution has authorized targeted sanctions and an arms embargo if fighting continues.

Fighting erupted in December 2013 -- two years after South Sudan's hard-won independence -- when Kiir accused Machar of planning a coup.

This unleashed a wave of killings that has split the young country along ethnic lines and embarrassed the United States, which pushed hard for its international recognition.

At least seven ceasefires have already been agreed and then shattered within days or even hours, while 2.2 million people have been driven from their homes.