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China leader in Sudan for talks China leader meets key ally Sudan
(about 2 hours later)
Chinese President Hu Jintao has arrived in Sudan on the latest leg of his eight-country African tour. Chinese President Hu Jintao has arrived in Sudan, which China has protected from United Nations sanctions over the conflict in Darfur.
Mr Hu will visit an oil refinery close to the capital, Khartoum, before holding talks with the Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir. China is by far Sudan's biggest trading partner and has invested heavily in its booming oil sector.
China is easily Sudan's biggest trading partner and has invested heavily in its oil sector. Western countries want the UN to put pressure on Sudan to end the violence in Darfur, but they have been blocked by China's Security Council veto.
Mr Hu arrived from the West African state of Liberia, where he signed a number of aid and investment deals. Some 200,000 people have died and 2m fled their homes in Darfur.
CHINA, SUDAN TIES China buys some 400,000 barrels of oil a day from SudanChina financed Sudan's oil pipelineChina sells weapons to SudanChina use UN Security Council veto to help Sudan The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Khartoum says that while China has been backing Sudan's government at the UN, it has violated numerous ceasefire agreements, bombing civilians and launching ground assaults, often with weapons bought directly from China.
The UN wants to take control of the beleaguered African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur but Mr Bashir opposes this, saying the UN should only provide logistical support.
Western countries, such as the UK and the US, along with campaigners, would like Mr Hu to put pressure on Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir to change his stance.
The Chinese leader is to visit an oil refinery close to the capital, Khartoum, before holding talks with Mr Bashir.
Sudan's economy is growing at close to 10% a year and much of that is down to its relationship with China.Sudan's economy is growing at close to 10% a year and much of that is down to its relationship with China.
Mr Hu's two-day visit is the first by a Chinese leader to Sudan.
They came to our help, they did not impose any conditions on us and so we had to take them Ali Abdulla AliSudanese economist 'Peaceful rise' draws criticismThey came to our help, they did not impose any conditions on us and so we had to take them Ali Abdulla AliSudanese economist 'Peaceful rise' draws criticism
In the 1980s and 1990s, when human rights abuses and civil war forced western companies to pull out, China stepped in.In the 1980s and 1990s, when human rights abuses and civil war forced western companies to pull out, China stepped in.
Beijing financed a 1,600km (1,000 miles) pipeline, taking oil from the south to Port Sudan on the Red Sea. Exports are now close to 500,000 barrels per day, with about 80% of that going directly to China. Beijing financed a 1,600km (1,000 miles) pipeline, taking oil from the south to Port Sudan on the Red Sea.
Exports are now close to 500,000 barrels per day, with about 80% of that going directly to China.
'No conditions''No conditions'
Ali Abdulla Ali, a Sudanese economist, said working with China made sense.Ali Abdulla Ali, a Sudanese economist, said working with China made sense.
"When they came in, they wanted to help us to produce the oil because they needed it. So you really can't say much about that," he said."When they came in, they wanted to help us to produce the oil because they needed it. So you really can't say much about that," he said.
"They came to our help, they did not impose any conditions on us and so we had to take them.""They came to our help, they did not impose any conditions on us and so we had to take them."
"I mean, we cannot just sit round and say, wait until for example the United States says that you have become a good country and so on and then they come through the IMF or the World Bank etc...they just want to help us," he said. "I mean, we cannot just sit round and say, wait until for example the United States says that you have become a good country and so on and then they come through the IMF or the World Bank etc... they just want to help us," he said.
And it is the lack of conditions which Beijing attaches to its business relationships which so infuriates Western governments. Our reporter says it is the lack of conditions which Beijing attaches to its business relationships which so infuriates Western governments.
As the main investor in Sudan and a key trading partner, China could have played a key role in trying to resolve the war in Darfur.As the main investor in Sudan and a key trading partner, China could have played a key role in trying to resolve the war in Darfur.
Instead, they have blocked tough resolutions at the UN Security Council and refused to push for a more robust peacekeeping force. Mr Hu is visiting Sudan on the latest leg of his eight-country African tour.
While that has been happening, the Sudanese government has violated numerous ceasefire agreements, bombing civilians and launching ground assaults, often with weapons bought directly from China. He arrived from Liberia, where he signed a number of aid and investment deals.
China is becoming a major trading partner for countries across Africa, not just Sudan.