China pledges continued support for Sudan: report
5 min readKHARTOUM — Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi pledged his country’s ongoing support for Sudan, “whatever … the internal and external changes,” at the start of a two-day visit, Sudanese media reported.
“China’s policy towards Sudan will not change, whatever the pressure and internal and external changes,” Yang was quoted as saying by the semi-official Sudan Media Centre late on Sunday, shortly after his arrival in Khartoum.
“China will continue its support for infrastructure projects in the fields of economy and development,” he added.
A key ally of Sudan, which has suffered from US economic sanction since 1997, the rising world power is also a major military supplier to the regime in Khartoum, as well as one the largest foreign investors and the biggest buyer of Sudanese oil.
President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in Darfur, travelled to Beijing just before the secession of the south last month, where most of Sudan’s oil lies, to bolster bilateral ties.
On Sunday, Yang urged north and south to find “urgent solutions” to their outstanding differences, two days after a dispute over duty payments caused the authorities in Port Sudan to block a 600,000 barrel shipment of southern oil.
“Sudan and the south will lose the peace equation by not cooperating on common and disputed issues,” he said.
Yang was due to meet his Sudanese counterpart Ali Karti on Monday morning, and President Bashir after his return from Chad, before travelling to Juba, capital of newly-independent South Sudan, on Tuesday.
Chinese foreign minister on two day trip to North and South Sudan
[08.08.2011 12:37]
Chinese Yang Jiechi was in North Sudan on Monday, for a two-day trip to both Khartoum and Juba, in what was seen as an effort by Beijing to tighten its economic links to the oil producing region, dpa reported.
Sudan, which split last month into two countries, has been a major exporter of oil to China, which in turn was a staunch supporter of Khartoum, now capital of the north, internationally and through economic development projects.
Most of the oil reserves now lie in the south. Jiechi is expected to travel to South Sudan on Tuesday, for his first trip to the newly independent nation, after meetings on Monday with northern officials, including President Omar al-Bashir, who has a warrant against him from the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes.
Unnamed Chinese diplomats were quoted by northern Sudanese media as warning that the two countries should not squander their peace deal and work towards cooperations. They also pledged that Beijing would not end its support of Khartoum.
The warning over the tense relations between north and south came following a recent a major oil row. The North blocked a 600,000-barrel oil shipment from South Sudan on Friday, alleging customs duties over the use of facilities were not paid.
The shipment was released over the weekend, after a compromise was found between Juba and Khartoum.
After decades of conflict and poor development, South Sudan’s infrastructure is in shambles or is simply lacking altogether.
Chinese foreign minister to meet Sudan’s Bashir
KHARTOUM Aug 8 (Reuters) – China’s foreign minister was due to meet Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on Monday for the highest-level talks between the two allies in the Sudanese capital since south Sudan seceded to form an independent state.
Yang Jiechi met Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti in Khartoum and announced that China was giving Sudan a 100 million yuan ($15.53 million) interest-free loan, a Sudanese government statement said.
Sudan was the sixth-largest source of Chinese oil imports in 2010. China has maintained close ties with north Sudan throughout a U.S. trade embargo.
Beijing called on the world to normalise relations with Khartoum after South Sudan seceded last month and has also been keen to build a relationship with leaders in the south.
Bashir has pledged to work with Africa’s newest nation, but north and south Sudan have failed to agree on how to divide their oil revenues. ($1 = 6.440 Chinese Yuan) (Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; Writing by Sherine El Madany)
Chinese Foreign Minister Visits Sudans
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi is visiting both Sudan and the newly independent South Sudan, marking the first high-level visit from Beijing since the latter’s secession last month. From the BBC:
China has been a strong supporter of Sudan and its President Omar al-Bashir, despite allegations of Sudanese war crimes in Darfur.
The visit comes after Sudan released a cargo of South Sudanese oil it had blocked in a row over custom duties.
South Sudan has to export oil via the north because it has no port or refineries of its own. However, the two sides have so far failed to agree on transit fees, or how to share oil revenue.
Chinese companies are heavily involved in Sudanese oil extraction.
The BBC’s James Copnall in Khartoum says that since three-quarters of the reserves now lie in South Sudan, Mr Yang’s visit will be closely followed for any possible signs of a shift in China’s loyalties.
The Paris-based Sudan Tribune relays Yang’s comments on the situation:
The Chinese top diplomat was quoted as saying by the government sponsored Sudanese Media Center (SMC) website that North and South Sudan “will lose the peace equation” by not cooperating on the joint and controversial issues.
He also affirmed that Beijing’s policy towards Khartoum will not change regardless of the pressures, internal and external variables adding that China will continue its support for infrastructure projects in the fields of economy and development.
On Darfur, Jiechi’s stressed that the ultimate solution to the conflict in the restive region lies in development and eliminating the causes of the conflict. He said that the recent Doha accord signed between the Sudanese government and one rebel group is an important achievement for the continuation of the peace and political process in Darfur with everybody’s will.
China FM warns North & South Sudan against losing “peace equation”
Sudan Tribune
August 7, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi arrived to Khartoum on Sunday on a two-day visit that will take him to South Sudan’s capital of Juba. Jiechi’s discussions will likely focus on pressing the two countries on resolving …
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