China and Sudan signed oil and infrastructure agreements Wednesday after President Hu Jintao met with his Sudanese counterpart, Omar al-Bashir. Hu said al-Bashir's visit to Beijing would "solidify and develop the traditional China-Sudan friendship and promote the two nations' practical co-operation in many fields."
Al-Bashir's arrival on Tuesday followed his return to Tehran after a take-off for Beijing Monday because Turkmenistan reportedly requested his flight to divert into Afghan airspace. The change was apparently prompted by fears that an attempt could be made to intercept al-Bashir's plane over Afghanistan and detain him under International Criminal Court warrants issued for alleged war crimes.
Hu said China would "firmly pursue a friendly policy" towards Sudan. "No matter what changes in the international situation and internal situation of Sudan, this policy will remain unchanged," he said. China wanted to offer Sudan more technological help with its development of agriculture and mining and would encourage more Chinese firms to invest in the country, the semi-official China News Service quoted Hu as saying. Hu said China "firmly supports the peace process between the north and south of Sudan" as South Sudan prepares to become an independent country July 9 after decades of civil war.
China has invested billions of dollars in Sudan, especially in its oil industry, but it must now balance its relations with al-Bashir and South Sudan, where about 75 per cent of Sudan's oil resources lie. The state-run China National Petroleum Corp said al-Bashir attended its signing with the Sudanese government of an agreement "to deepen co-operation in oil and gas fields." The company gave no details of the agreement, but SUNA, the official Sudan News Agency, said the Chinese firm was "ready to double investment in Sudan."
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