South Sudan and China commit to stronger ties

October 21, 2011 (BEIJING) – A delegation of South Sudan’s ruling party, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), has visited China and exchanged pledges with its ruling party to cultivate stronger bilateral relations.

China’s official news agency Xinhua reported that Li Changchun, a senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met on Friday with the visiting SPLM’s delegation led by its secretary-general Pagan Amum.

Li was quoted as hailing the visit as a good start of bilateral ties and declared that China is willing to develop mutually beneficial relations with South Sudan’s ruling party.

“We are willing to further enhance political trust and win-win cooperation with South Sudan on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, to promote long-term, healthy and stable growth of our relations,” Li said.

South Sudan received China’s recognition of its independence when the south officially seceded from Sudan on 9 July.

“Under the new circumstances, it is of vital significance for both parties to further consolidate and develop their relations,” the Chinese official said.

China has so far managed to straddle the divide between South Sudan and Sudan, maintaining its close relations with Khartoum while trying to build strong ties with the leaders of the world’s newest nation in Juba.

When it seceded, South Sudan took with it 75% of the revenues of Sudan’s oil sector in which Chinese companies are the biggest investors. Khartoum and Juba are yet to strike a deal on how much the landlocked and grossly underdeveloped South Sudan should pay for the use of Sudan’s pipeline and refineries to export its oil.

Beijing has been urging the ex-war foes to overcome their disagreements and cooperate on oil, indicating China’s concerns about preserving its multi-billion dollar investments particularly in the oil sector.

In response to the warm remarks of the Chinese official, Pagan Amum said that South Sudan regards China as “a sincere friend and strategic partner.”

According to Xinhua, Amum also said South Sudan hopes to learn from the CPC’s governance experience, and facilitate bilateral substantial cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, resources development, culture, and education, he said.

Prior to its independence, South Sudan has sought to assure China that its oil investments will be protected.

Following a meeting Amum held in October with CPC’s officials, he said, “We have given assurances to the Chinese leadership delegation to protect the Chinese investments in southern Sudan, and are desirous to see more investment in the future.”

(ST)