Al-Bashir's China visit yields oil, infrastructure deals

Jun 29, 2011, 9:56 GMT

Sudan\'s leader Omar al-Bashir (C) and Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) review the Chinese military honour guard during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on 29 June 2011. Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for alleged war crimes, was given a red-carpet welcome by Chinese President Hu Jintao, in defiance of criticism of the visit by rights groups. The two presidents will sit down for talks in the Great Hall of the People in the heart of Beijing. EPA/LIU JIN

Beijing - 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 cooperation 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 cooperation 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.'

SUNA quoted company head Jiang Jiemin as saying Sudan was capable of increasing oil production in two blocks and that company officials would visit Sudan soon to discuss future cooperation.

Other agreements covered loans for constructing a bridge in eastern Sudan and the building of an irrigation project and a sugar plant, reports said.

Hu hosted a state welcome ceremony at Beijing's Great Hall of the People for al-Bashir before their first talks since Hu visited Sudan in 2007.

Addressing the Sudanese community in Beijing on Tuesday, al-Bashir said Sudan's oil cooperation with China was 'unprecedented, firm and based on partnership.'

Sudan had moved to build 'strong relations with China after it became convinced that there is no feasibility for cooperation with the Western countries,' SUNA quoted him as saying.

The Netherlands-based International Criminal Court has issued two warrants for al-Bashir in connection with alleged atrocities committed in the Darfur region.

Al-Bashir has rejected the charges but has had to cancel several foreign trips before because of pressure from the court.

The Sudan Tribune newspaper quoted Sudanese diplomatic sources as saying al-Bashir's plane was eventually rerouted via Pakistani airspace on Tuesday after Turkmenistan 'revoked its permission to al-Bashir's plane and instead suggested another route.'

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