On December 10, 2020, the signing ceremony for the implementation agreement on the China-aid slaughter house project was held in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning of Sudan, at which Chinese Ambassador to Sudan Ma Xinmin and Acting Minister of Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning of Sudan Heba signed the agreement and delivered remarks respectively. Chief of Staff of Prime Minister Office of Sudan Sheikh and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Sudan Zhang Ming were present at the ceremony.

At the outset, Ma extended congratulations on the official signing of the implementation agreement between the two sides, saying that as one of the priorities in China-Sudan strategic cooperation on agriculture, this project is expected to be a driver in helping Sudan build a modern and complete industry chain of the livestock farming industry, and thus is of far-reaching significance with respect to enhancing Sudan’s capacity for independent economic development and improving the life of Sudanese farmers and herdsmen. He added, with long-lasting friendship over a period of more than half a century, the two nations have seen their relations grow even stronger and their peoples regard each other as brothers. Over the past 61 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sudan, Chinese assistance to Sudan and the fruitful and practical cooperation between the two countries have delivered tangible benefits to the people of Sudan and enabled the two peoples to forge deep friendship. The signing of the implementation agreement marks a big step in successfully implementing the China-aid slaughter house project and adds another major achievement to China-Sudan practical cooperation. It is hoped that both sides will continue to push ahead the subsequent work in the spirit of win-win cooperation and work to deliver the project on the ground as early as possible to benefit the people of Sudan. China stands ready to provide assistance for Sudan within its capabilities, promote the sustained development of bilateral relations and work together with Sudan to create a brighter future of bilateral cooperation.

Heba first thanked the Chinese government for its selfless assistance to Sudan on various fronts, and noted that, since China and Sudan established diplomatic relations in 1959, their relations have grown firmer. Thanks to economic and technical assistance from the Chinese government since 1970, Sudan has built the Friendship Hall, textile mills, oil refineries, highways, vocational training centers, among other major projects, all of which have played a key role in boosting Sudan’s economic growth. In particular, China-Sudan oil cooperation dating back to 1995 has contributed to the booming economic and trade relations between the two sides. The slaughter house project, for which the implementation agreement is signed today, will greatly stimulate the development of Sudan’s livestock farming sector and optimize the structure of the bilateral trade. She pointed out, Sudan is willing to work collaboratively with China to push forward the project for its success, and ready to continue to cement mutually beneficial cooperation with China and strive for stable and sustained development of bilateral relationship.

The China-aid slaughter house project was initiated in 2017. In March 2017, the Chinese government approved the aid to the Sudanese government with the implementation of the slaughter house project and signed the exchange letter therefor. In February 2018, the two governments signed the supplementary exchange letter. And in March 2019, the two sides signed an agreement on the operation of this project. The signing of the implementation agreement marks that the project will proceed to the construction process. Once completed, the project which includes the building of modern workshops for slaughter and processing of cattle and sheep and other supporting facilities for production and environmental protection, is projected to have the production capacity of 33,000 tons of frozen and chilled meat per annum.