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June 29, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir on Wednesday met with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao in Beijing and discussed the future of their relationship in light of the country’s breakup that becomes official next month.
- Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) arrives with Sudan’s leader Omer Hassan al-Bashir (R) to attend a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 29, 2011 (AFP)
The visit started a day late due to rerouting of Bashir’s plane by authorities in Turkmenistan for reasons that have yet to be fully uncovered. Bashir and his Chinese hosts exchanged warm words of welcome.
"Mr Bashir, you are a guest who has traveled from afar, and we welcome you," Hu said in opening remarks, adding that he hoped the talks would help bolster the "traditionally friendly relations" between the two countries.
The Sudanese leader hailed Hu as a "friend and brother" and thanked him for the "warm welcome and treatment" he had received since arriving in Beijing on Tuesday
Both leaders also witnessed signing of an agreement between the state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and Sudan’s Oil ministry to advance oil and gas cooperation.
Sudan’s foreign minister told reporters at a press conference in Beijing today that his country will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in aid as a result of Bashir’s visit.
Karti said they received Chinese assurances that they do not support the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued for the Sudanese leader and that they promised to seek to mend ties between Khartoum and the West.
The Sudanese top diplomat said that China and CNPC in particular pledged more investments in Sudan but declined to give exact figures. He added that the oil giant is especially interested in oil exploration projects in the North.
"We are now in need of Chinese support because the West instead of supporting us is now doing what I can describe as a challenge" Karti said.
China has major oil investments in Sudan and has long had close ties with the leaders of the North. It has been courting support in the oil-producing South, which becomes an independent country on July 9.
While most of Sudan’s oil lies in the South, the pipelines and the transporting port are in the North. The two governments are still negotiating how oil wealth will be shared.
Analysts say that that recent North-South clashes in the border states will concern China for fear that its oil supply will be disrupted.
(ST)
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