BEIJING, May 12 -- China on Monday welcomed the meeting and truce accord between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and former vice-president Riek Machar, ending five months of bloodshedn.

"We hope the two sides in South Sudan implement the ceasefire agreement and create favorable conditions for a comprehensive and proper solution to the conflict," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily news briefing.

Hua applauded the efforts of the regional bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), saying China will continue to work to help restore stability in South Sudan.

The meeting, under the mediation of IGAD, took place on Friday and was the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since the conflict between government troops and rebel factions began in Dec. 2013.

The agreement contains a commitment to an immediate cessation of hostilities within 24 hours of the signing and a rededication to the cessation of hostilities agreement signed on Jan. 23, 2014 in Addis Ababa.

A political dispute broke out in the world's youngest nation between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar, who was removed from office in July of 2013 and later accused of attempting a coup.

The tensions escalated on Dec. 15, 2013 into a full-scale conflict between forces loyal to either side, driving 800,000 people from their homes and leaving twice as many in dire need of aid.