Sudanese-Chinese talks to kick-off Sunday in Khartoum

KHARTOUM, Jan 3, 2004 (KUNA) — Sudanese-Chinese talks are to kick-off here Sunday between the Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Othman Ismail and his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing.

The Sudanese ambassador to china said in a statement that the talks between the two ministers will focus on the bilateral relations, in addition to regional and international issues that are of mutual interest.

He added that the Chinese minister is due here tomorrow in a three-day visit that also includes several African countries.

The minister, he pointed out, will also be taking part in the inauguration ceremony of a power station carried out by a Chinese company and will visit a oil refinery.

The trade exchange between the two countries reached 1.6 billion dollars until October 2003 as china is considered Sudan’s first trade partner.

China offered Sudan six interest-free loans that reached 98.6 million dollars since the economic and technical cooperation in 1970 during which over 24 projects have been implemented.