Chinese president Hu Jintao stated China’s continuing support for Sudan on Wednesday. Reuters reports:
Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday reiterated China’s support for Sudan, whose president has been accused of genocide in Darfur, ahead of his trip to Africa next week.
Rights groups say China, which last year imported $6.3 billion of Sudanese crude oil, has failed to do enough to stop bloodshed in Darfur and has violated a U.N. arms embargo on the region.
China denies the charges and has appointed its own envoy to try to bring peace to Darfur.
“China is willing to make joint efforts with Sudan to carry on their traditional friendship, boost pragmatic cooperation and push friendly cooperation to a new high,” the official Xinhua news agency quoted Hu as telling Sudan President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.
Xinhua also reports on the ongoing China-Sudan relationship:
Hu, in his message, said the bilateral ties have withstood various kinds of tests on the international stage and managed to see a smooth development since the two countries forged the ties half a century ago.
The two sides, depending on each other with sincerity and friendship, have engaged in full cooperation in all fields and produced significant fruits, said Hu, citing examples of their good communication and coordination on such multilateral issues as the China-Africa Cooperation Forum and the settlement of hot regional issues.
Noting both China and Sudan are developing countries, the Chinese president said enhancing the bilateral relationship, characterized by equality, mutual benefit, sincerity and friendship, plays a significant role in deepening South-South cooperation, seeking mutual development and boosting regional peace and stability.
China’s relations with Sudan have lasted for over 100 years, according to a July 2008 NPR series called “China’s Rising Power in Africa”. The series covers the historical beginnings of their ties, as well as the current controversies that surround their relations today.
