SUDAN: Chinese President Hu arrives in Sudan and pledges a new level of cooperation with the African nation

President Hu Jintao pledged a new level of cooperation between Beijing and its third-largest African trading partner at the start of the Chinese leader's first visit to Sudan on Friday (February 02). Sudan and China signed a number of deals and Hu was scheduled to visit a Chinese-built oil refinery during his two-day trip which, despite Western pressure, was not expected to focus on ending the conflict in Darfur. Hundreds of people waving banners welcoming the Chinese leader lined the streets of the capital, festooned with Sudanese and Chinese flags. Thousands of Chinese expatriates live in Sudan, working on construction projects and in Sudan's budding oil industry. Sudan's Islamic government, under tough U.S. sanctions, has relied heavily on its Asian ally to expand its oil production to 330,000 barrels per day and build key infrastructure like dams and roads. Sudan's economy has benefited from Chinese and Asian funds, and is expected to grow up to 13 percent this year. In November Sudan was China's fourth-largest source of crude imports, and bilateral trade stood at 2.9 billion U.S. dollars in the first 11 months of 2006, Chinese figures show, behind South Africa and Angola. China's "no strings attached" aid policy throughout Africa has raised concern in the West. Western officials say it could undermine efforts to link good governance, accountability and protection of human rights to financial aid and cooperation. China's approach has raised special concerns in Sudan. The United States in particular has pressed China to use its economic muscle to persuade Khartoum to end atrocities in its Darfur region, where four years of war have killed about 200,000 people and driven 2.5 million from their homes. Sudan sells much of its crude to China. Chinese arms are used by all sides in the Darfur conflict, despite an arms embargo on the region. China also provides diplomatic protection for Sudan on the U.N. Security Council, which is engaged in a standoff with Khartoum over a U.N. peacekeeping mission for Darfur. Human Rights Watch said China should examine the connection between Sudanese oil development and human rights abuses, given Beijing's heavy involvement in the industry. Hu made no mention of Darfur or the violence in Sudan's western desert region in a statement released following his arrival in Khartoum and few believe Hu will use his first visit to Sudan to press his hosts on rights abuses. China will host the 2008 Olympics, and human rights activists are campaigning for a boycott of the Games if China does not use its permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council to put pressure on Sudan to accept U.N. peacekeepers in Darfur. Hu, making an eight-nation tour of Africa to strengthen ties in a period marked by huge Chinese demand for raw materials for its rapid industrial expansion, has already visited Cameroon and Liberia.

ITN Source | February 3, 2007

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