Al Bashir Briefs China on Sudan's Stance on Oil Dispute

President of the Republic, Field Marshal Omer Hassan Al Bashir, briefed Sunday his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao on the oil dispute with the South amid reports of a possible role by China to strike a deal.

President Al Bashir had conducted consultations with a senior Adviser to Chinese President to that end, Foreign Minister Ali Karti told reporters in Addis Ababa Saturday, citing earlier contacts with Chinese Foreign Minister on the need to reach a solution.

Karti said the Sudanese President told China that South Sudan is intransigent and unwilling to accept proposals submitted by African Union (AU) mediators since the start of the talks, and called on China to exercise pressure on the South Sudan.

The Minister said China pledged to support Sudan’s stance in order to safeguard its investments.

He said China is aware that South Sudan had earlier attempted to destroy oil facilities to block China’s access to Africa and is now making another attempt to keep China away from the region.

He said President Hu Jintao highlighted the risks to Chinese investment and stressed the need to protect them.

On Saturday, President Al Bashir instructed the Ministry of Energy to release oil tankers detained at Sudan’s Ports as a goodwill gesture to encourage negotiators to proceed with the talks to sign a framework agreement.

In another development, South Sudan oil minister said yesterday that his country completed the shutdown of oil operations necessitated by differences over transit fees, adding that his country would not resume oil production until a comprehensive agreement is reached with Khartoum on other issues including border security and the disputed territory of Abyei.