China offers mediation between North & South Sudan
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August 9, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – China is prepared to mediate between North
and South Sudan in order to bridge difference in views regarding
outstanding post-secession issues, a visiting official said today.
JPEG - 36 kb
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi speaks to the press as Sudanese
Foreign Minister Ali Karti (R) listens on following their meeting in
Khartoum on August 8, 2011 (AFP)
The Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi made the offer at the
conclusion of his two-day visit which took him to Khartoum and Juba.
Sudanese foreign minister Ali Karti speaking to reporters along with
Jiechi at Khartoum airport welcomed China’s initiative saying that
Beijing is qualified to play this role given the acceptance and
appreciation it enjoys from both sides.
This is the first visit by a senior Chinese official to the region
since South Sudan became an independent state in early July. The
people of Southern Sudan voted last January almost unanimously in
favor of splitting from the North.
China owns multi-billion dollar investments in Sudan that are mainly
concentrated in the oil sector. Sudan is one of China’s main oil
suppliers.
The breakup of Sudan presents a dilemma for China as most of the oil
reserves lie in the South while the pipelines, refineries and related
infrastructure are in the North.
Khartoum and Juba are still negotiating the oil transit fees that
should be assessed. Last week the North blocked an oil shipment
belonging to the South and would not let it sail unless custom duties
are paid. It was released a day later.
The Chinese top diplomat vowed to help both in developing their economies.
"Our two economies are there for each other and we want to see good
cooperation in such areas like agriculture, infrastructure
construction, oil production," Jiechi told reporters after meeting
South Sudan President Salva Kiir.
"And we will give aid to the Sudanese people within our capacity to
help uplift their living standards," he added, without being specific.
In an interview with South Sudan’s Al-Masier newspaper, posted on the
Chinese Foreign Ministry’s website on Tuesday, Jiechi said his visit
"gives testimony to the importance China attaches to cultivating
friendship and cooperation with South Sudan".
He said that he conveyed an invitation from President Hu Jintao to
Kiir to visit China in the near future.
Asked by Al-Masier how China would balance its relationship with the
two, Jiechi said it has consistently supported and contributed to the
peace process.
"We have always believed that the north and the south are
interdependent, and we hope to see that - proceeding from the
fundamental interests of their peoples and the stability of the region
- they stick to the peace option and address the issues through
dialogue," he said.
During the visit, Sudan and China signed an agreement for constructing
of a railway line linking Sudan and Chad and Central African Republic
(CAR).
(ST)
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