On January 28, 2019, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Sudanese Presidential Envoy Faysal Hassan Ibrahim Ali in Beijing.
Faysal conveyed cordial regards and new-year wishes of President Omar al-Bashir to President Xi Jinping. He updated the latest situation in Sudan, saying that the situation was fully under control and people’s livelihoods had returned to normal. Sudan opposes any interference in its internal affairs, he noted, adding that China is a good friend of the Sudanese people and the Sudanese side appreciated China for its assistance to Sudan in maintaining national peace and stability and promoting economic development. Noting that a friend in need is a friend indeed, Faysal said that Sudan wishes to continue to have support from China, learn from China’s experience in development and deepen bilateral cooperation under the framework of the “Belt and Road” Initiative, and welcomes investment of Chinese enterprises in Sudan. Sudan will continue to firmly support China’s proper position on international occasions, he stressed.
Wang thanked Faysal for his special visit to China to brief on relevant situations, and said that when Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir attended the FOCAC Beijing Summit in September last year, President Xi Jinping and President Omar al-Bashir held a fruitful meeting that not only cements the longstanding friendship between the two sides but also charts the course for China-Sudan cooperation in the future. Wang noted that Sudan has unique leverage in Africa and the Arab world, and as strategic partners, China and Sudan have been understanding and supporting each other. As a good friend and close partner of Sudan, China will continue to firmly support Sudan in following the development path suited to its national conditions and maintaining social stability, and resolutely oppose external forces interfering in Sudan’s internal affairs, Wang highlighted, adding that China is confident of the capabilities of the Sudanese people to maintain unity, stability and development under the leadership of President Omar al-Bashir. He said that China will continue with its support and assistance to Sudan within its capabilities, and both sides could explore new approaches to bilateral cooperation, enhance practical cooperation under the frameworks of the FOCAC and the Belt and Road Initiative, and seize the opportunity of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sudan to open up new prospects for China-Sudan relationship.