Sudanese foreign minister leaves for Vietnam

BEIJING, China, May 22, 2005 (SUNA) — Minister of Foreign Affairs Mustafa Osman Ismail leaves Sunday for Vietnam after concluding a visit to China, where he held talks with the Chinese officials and conveyed a message from the President of the republic to the Chinese President.

Sudan ambassador to China Mirghani Mohamed Salih said in a statement to SUNA that the minister of foreign affairs handed over when he was received by the Chinese Prime Minister a written message from the President of the republic to the Chinese president dealing with bilateral relations and the developments of the peace process in light of the peace agreement as well as the efforts being exerted by the government for resolving the situations in Darfur, pointing out that the president lauded the Chinese support to the Sudanese issues.

The message also dealt with the trade and investment relations, especially in the oil field and infrastructures.

The ambassador added that Ismail also held meetings with the Chinese Foreign Minister, the Secretary of the External Relations Committee at the Chinese Communist Party and officials of the Chinese Friendship Association, pointing out that the meetings dealt with the political, economic and trade relations besides the relations between the two ruling parties and the regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The ambassador described the visit as successful and that it would give a strong boost to the relations between the two countries, pointing out that President Al-Bashir extended invitation to his Chinese counterpart to visit Sudan.