Chinese president praises bilateral ties, voices support for Al-Bashir
February 4, 2009 (BEIJING) — President Hu Jintao of China voiced strong support for Sudan during a formal exchange of congratulatory messages with President Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan in celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two, according to a statement published by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
China has undertaken major development projects in the Sudan and last year imported $6.3 billion of Sudanese crude oil. It is also a major arms supplier to the regime and the UN Panel of Experts on Sudan has chronicled evidence that weapons and ammunition of Chinese manufacture are being used in the civil war in Darfur, a region placed under a UN arms embargo.
Hu Jintao said in his message that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 50 years ago, principles of peaceful coexistence in Sino-Sudanese relations have withstood the test of the changing international situation.
He also told Al-Bashir, who is indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor on counts of genocide, murder and war crimes, that the Chinese side respects Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Chinese leader stressed the mutual benefit between the two countries, the importance of development and the significance of advancing a new China-Africa strategic partnership, as well as relations with Arab countries.
In recent months, Sudan has appealed on China to do more to advance the case of Al-Bashir in the UN Security Council, which has the power to suspend the ICC indictment. However, the issue never came to a vote.
According to a Chinese news source, Al-Bashir in his message, hailed the “time-honored and strong relations between Sudan and China,” saying that Sudan was one of the first Arab countries to establish diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China shortly after its founding in 1949.
President Hu Jintao will pay state visits to Saudi Arabia, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania and Mauritius beginning February 10, though he will not visit Sudan as he did in 2007.
(ST)