China / Jia Qinglin Meets with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir

BEIJING, China, January 31, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- On January 28, 2012, Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, met with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in Addis Ababa.

Jia conveyed President Hu Jintao's cordial greetings to Bashir. "China and Sudan boast a profound traditional friendship, and since the establishment of diplomatic relations over half a century ago, they have always trusted and understood each other and treated each other in the spirit of equality and sincerity despite changing international landscape and situations of both countries," said Jia. In recent years, both sides have maintained frequent high-level visits, increasing political mutual trust, fruitful pragmatic cooperation in trade, energy and other fields and good consultation and coordination in international affairs. "China appreciates Sudan's consistent support for China on issues of China's core interests and major concerns, and will in turn support its efforts of maintaining national stability and developing economy," he added. China's set policy of developing friendly cooperative relations with Sudan will not change, he said, adding China is willing to make joint efforts with Sudan to promote the deepening of China-Sudan relations for the benefit of the two peoples.

Bashir said that Sudan-China friendly and cooperative relationship has a solid foundation and the Sudanese government and people thank for China's consistent support and help. In recent years, relations between the two countries have achieved rapid and substantial development and their fruitful economic cooperation has played an important role in promoting economic and social development of Sudan, which not only benefits the two peoples, but is also an example of South-South cooperation. Sudan attaches great importance to developing relations with China and hopes to maintain exchanges with China at all levels, expand mutually beneficial cooperation in oil, mining, agriculture and other areas. "Chinese enterprises are welcomed to invest in Sudan, and they will be protected by concrete measures," he added.