Sudan’s political relations with Russia at its best: Bashir

December 17, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir hailed his country’s ties with Russia saying they are at their best on the political front but needs some push on the economic side to reach its maximum potential.

Bashir made the remarks during his meeting on Monday with the Russian minister of Natural Resources and Environment Sergey Donskoy and his delegation which is visiting Khartoum to participate in meetings of joint Sudanese-Russian ministerial committee.

The president discussed with the Russian officials economic cooperation particularly in the field of minerals.

Sudan’s newly appointed Minerals’ minister Ahmed Mohammed Sadiq al-Karuri said the meeting discussed enhancing the strategic economic relationship with Russia.

Donskoy on his end said that their discussions with Bashir dealt with cooperation in the fields of transport and communications, mining and construction of ports noting that the Sudanese president expressed full support to these schemes.

He added that a joint program of work was agreed on between the two countries to accelerate development and in this regard said that they signed a protocol and a roadmap for bilateral work between the two countries at the conclusion of the joint ministerial committee meetings.

The two day meetings which convened in Khartoum this week were chaired by Committee al-Karuri and Donskoy with the participation of ministers of Investment, Trade, Tourism and businessmen from the two sides and a number of companies and economic institutions.

(ST)