Sudanese minister of external affairs starts China visit

BEIJING, May 19, 2005 (Xinhua) — Sudanese Minister of External Affairs Mustafa Othman Ismail arrived here Thursday for a four-day official visit to China.

During his stay in Beijing, Ismail is scheduled to meet with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and hold talks with Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

Located in northeast Africa, the Sudan is the largest country in Africa with a population of nearly 32 million. It established diplomatic ties with China in 1959.