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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Chinese leader boosts Sudan ties | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Chinese President Hu Jintao has agreed a series of economic deals in Sudan, which China has protected from UN sanctions over the Darfur conflict. | |
| The deals include grants and loans, a new presidential palace, as well as schools and roads. China already buys most of Sudan's oil. | |
| Western countries want China to press Sudan to end the Darfur violence but it is not clear whether it was discussed. | |
| Some 200,000 people have died and 2m fled their homes in Darfur. | 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 | |
| China has used its veto at the United Nations Security Council to block moves to impose sanctions on Sudan unless it stops the fighting in Darfur. | |
| The BBC's Jonah Fisher in the capital, Khartoum, says that while China has been backing the Sudanese government at the UN, Sudan 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Hundreds of people, Sudanese and Chinese, lined the streets of the capital, Khartoum, to welcome Mr Hu. | Hundreds of people, Sudanese and Chinese, lined the streets of the capital, Khartoum, to welcome Mr Hu. |
| He is to visit an oil refinery close to Khartoum before holding talks with Mr Bashir. | He is to visit an oil refinery close to 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. |
| 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 criticism | 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 criticism |
| Mr Hu's two-day visit is the first by a Chinese leader to Sudan. | Mr Hu's two-day visit is the first by a Chinese leader to Sudan. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Our reporter says 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. |
| Mr Hu is visiting Sudan on the latest leg of his eight-country African tour. | Mr Hu is visiting Sudan on the latest leg of his eight-country African tour. |
| He arrived from Liberia, where he signed a number of aid and investment deals. | 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. | China is becoming a major trading partner for countries across Africa, not just Sudan. |