Sudanese president to attend China’s WWII celebrations
August 29, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir will begin a visit to China on Monday to participate in celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and hold talks with officials there on economic cooperation.
Bashir was subject to an embarrassing situation in June 2011 when Turkmenistan and Tajikistan refused to give permission to Bashir’s plane in order to reach China where he was set to start a state visit. As a result he was forced to return to Tehran where he was attending a summit there in order to decide on a new route to reach Beijing.
He eventually arrived a day later than scheduled and it remains unclear why his plane was blocked.
Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes committed in Darfur.
China is not an ICC member and has made it clear in the past that it does not approve of the warrant even though it chose not to veto the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 2005 resolution empowering the Hague-based court to investigate crimes in Sudan’s western region.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a note sent via email that Bashir “should be in The Hague facing justice, not an honored guest anywhere”.
“China has made headlines recently for President Xi Jinping’s initiative to compel the return of Chinese nationals abroad who are facing charges of corruption. Yet hosting a war crimes suspect doesn’t seem to be problem,” HRW said.
“One of the lessons of World War II is that leaders can go to prison for their wartime atrocities. If China is going to disregard the warrants by inviting Bashir to its commemoration, perhaps he will at least be reminded of this”.
The Sudanese ambassador in Beijing Omar Issa said that a meeting for Sudanese businessmen will be held on September 2nd in the Chinese capital in conjunction with the president’s visit which he said confirms the strong relations between the two countries.
Issa said in a statement carried by Sudan News Agency (SUNA) that a bilateral summit will take place between Bashir and Jinping. He added that Bashir will also hold a meeting with Sudanese Diaspora there.
It is expected that the Sudanese president will witness the signing of a number of MoU’s and agreements between the two countries related to economic cooperation and investments.
China is the largest foreign investor in Sudan and used to be the biggest oil importer from there before South Sudan’s secession in 2011.
Senior diplomatic sources told Sudan Tribune that Bashir will discuss with Chinese officials the possibility of settling Khartoum’s $10 billion debt or change its terms given Sudan’s difficult economic situation.
The Sudanese minister of Transport and Roads Makkawi Mohammed Ahmed disclosed that they signed a contract with a Chinese company to build a new 1000-kms railway line in eastern Sudan that would link the cities of Haya, Kassala, Gedaref, Sennar and Damazin adding that it will be operated electronically using optical fibers in the stations.
He further said that they will sign an agreement for the purchase of two A320 Airbus aircrafts through rent-to-buy arrangement that will be used by the beleaguered Sudan Airways.
Ahmed said they will also lease 3 MA-16 Chinese-made planes each with the capacity of 60 passengers.
Another framework agreement on the manufacture of ships used in maritime transport will be signed during the trip, he added.
(ST)