Chinese foreign minister ends visit to Sudan with anti-terrorism statement, economic agreements

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Jan 06, 2004 (AP) — Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing ended a two-day official visit to Sudan Tuesday after discussing bilateral relations, economic cooperation and terrorism issues.

Li and his Sudanese counterpart, Mustafa Osman Ismail, issued a joint statement in which they stressed the need for more international cooperation in combating terrorism.

“The two sides are agreed that terrorism is no longer a question related to one state alone, it has become an international question,” the statement said.

The two also signed two economic cooperation agreements, securing 60 million Chinese yuan (about US$7,250,000) in loans and loan guarantees to Sudan.

Li told reporters before leaving that he was confident cooperation between the two countries would “witness a bright future.” Ismail called it “a successful and fruitful visit.”