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China's foreign minister in first visit to South Sudan China's foreign minister in first visit to South Sudan
(about 9 hours later)
China's foreign minister is to arrive in South Sudan - the first high-level visit since independence in July. China's foreign minister is visiting South Sudan in the first high-level trip since its independence in July.
Yang Jiechi is expected to urge the government in Juba to develop a better relationship with Sudan. Yang Jiechi hailed a "bright future" between the two countries, following a meeting with President Salva Kiir in Juba.
Mr Yang expressed similar views during his talks with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir earlier this week. Earlier this week, Mr Yang held talks with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
China - which is heavily involved in Sudanese oil extraction - has been a strong supporter of Mr Bashir, despite claims of Sudan's war crimes in Darfur.China - which is heavily involved in Sudanese oil extraction - has been a strong supporter of Mr Bashir, despite claims of Sudan's war crimes in Darfur.
'Urgent solutions''Urgent solutions'
Mr Yang's visit comes one month to the day after South Sudan became independent.Mr Yang's visit comes one month to the day after South Sudan became independent.
Beijing's links to Khartoum have been strong in recent years, but the Chinese have made an effort to improve their ties with Juba too, the BBC's James Copnall in Khartoum reports. "There's a bright future for China and South Sudan and for our relationship. So I wish the Sudanese people every success," Mr Yang told reporters after talks.
Last year, Sudan as a whole was the sixth largest source of oil imports of China, and now three-quarters of that oil belongs to South Sudan. "Our two economies are there for each other and we want to see good co-operation in such areas like agriculture, infrastructure construction, oil production," he said.
However, South Sudan has to export all its oil via the north because it has no port or refineries of its own. The two sides have so far failed to agree on transit fees, or how to share oil revenue. South Sudan's Foreign Minister Deng Alor said he believed Mr Yang's visit would "set in motion a special relationship between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of South Sudan".
The visit comes after Sudan last week released a cargo of South Sudanese oil it had blocked in a row over custom duties. "As a newly independent nation we definitely need a country like China to help us in development of our infrastructure, of our agriculture, vocational system and many areas," he said.
Deng Alor towers over his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi. Of course the international clout of their respective countries is a neat reversal of this.
Nevertheless, the world's newest nation has something China wants: oil. One veteran South Sudanese diplomat said China now has a "vested interest" in opening its arms to South Sudan. In fact, when he was in Khartoum, Mr Yang was at pains to show China is not abandoning Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
Mr Yang is surely aware South Sudan has far closer links with the West, and in particular America, than with China. But his warm words in Juba suggest China is keen to deal with both.
There is one obvious area in which China could help: guiding Sudan and South Sudan into resolving some of their differences.
That would benefit China too - South Sudan now has most of the oil China covets, but for the time being, at least, it needs Sudan's pipelines and port to export it.
Meanwhile, Sudan's Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti has announced that Sudan has granted China more oil exploration rights, following Mr Yang's meeting with Mr Bashir in Khartoum on Monday.
"President Bashir has granted the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) three promising new petroleum blocs and offered a partnership with the national petroleum company Sudapet in the fields where it operates," Mr Karti said late on Monday.
South Sudan has to export all its oil via the north because it has no port or refineries of its own. The two sides have so far failed to agree on transit fees, or how to share oil revenue.
Mr Yang's visit comes after Sudan last week released a cargo of South Sudanese oil it had blocked in a row over custom duties.
During his two-day visit to Khartoum which ended on Monday, Mr Yang urged both the north and the south to find "urgent solutions" to their outstanding differences for the sake of stability.During his two-day visit to Khartoum which ended on Monday, Mr Yang urged both the north and the south to find "urgent solutions" to their outstanding differences for the sake of stability.
"We hope that Sudan and South Sudan will have good neighbourly relations based on the exchange of benefits," he said."We hope that Sudan and South Sudan will have good neighbourly relations based on the exchange of benefits," he said.
He also announced a 100 million yuan ($15.6m; £9.5m) interest-free loan to Khartoum, Reuters news agency reports.He also announced a 100 million yuan ($15.6m; £9.5m) interest-free loan to Khartoum, Reuters news agency reports.
Relations between the two states remain tense.
South Sudan's independence follows decades of north-south conflict, which ended with a 2005 peace deal.South Sudan's independence follows decades of north-south conflict, which ended with a 2005 peace deal.
Sudan: A country divided Show regionsSudan: A country divided Show regions
The great divide across Sudan is visible even from space, as this Nasa satellite image shows. The northern states are a blanket of desert, broken only by the fertile Nile corridor. South Sudan is covered by green swathes of grassland, swamps and tropical forest.The great divide across Sudan is visible even from space, as this Nasa satellite image shows. The northern states are a blanket of desert, broken only by the fertile Nile corridor. South Sudan is covered by green swathes of grassland, swamps and tropical forest.
Sudan's arid north is mainly home to Arabic-speaking Muslims. But in South Sudan there is no dominant culture. The Dinkas and the Nuers are the largest of more than 200 ethnic groups, each with its own languages and traditional beliefs, alongside Christianity and Islam.Sudan's arid north is mainly home to Arabic-speaking Muslims. But in South Sudan there is no dominant culture. The Dinkas and the Nuers are the largest of more than 200 ethnic groups, each with its own languages and traditional beliefs, alongside Christianity and Islam.
The health inequalities in Sudan are illustrated by infant mortality rates. In South Sudan, one in 10 children die before their first birthday. Whereas in the more developed northern states, such as Gezira and White Nile, half of those children would be expected to survive.The health inequalities in Sudan are illustrated by infant mortality rates. In South Sudan, one in 10 children die before their first birthday. Whereas in the more developed northern states, such as Gezira and White Nile, half of those children would be expected to survive.
The gulf in water resources between north and south is stark. In Khartoum, River Nile, and Gezira states, two-thirds of people have access to piped drinking water and pit latrines. In the south, boreholes and unprotected wells are the main drinking sources. More than 80% of southerners have no toilet facilities whatsoever.The gulf in water resources between north and south is stark. In Khartoum, River Nile, and Gezira states, two-thirds of people have access to piped drinking water and pit latrines. In the south, boreholes and unprotected wells are the main drinking sources. More than 80% of southerners have no toilet facilities whatsoever.
Throughout Sudan, access to primary school education is strongly linked to household earnings. In the poorest parts of the south, less than 1% of children finish primary school. Whereas in the wealthier north, up to 50% of children complete primary level education.Throughout Sudan, access to primary school education is strongly linked to household earnings. In the poorest parts of the south, less than 1% of children finish primary school. Whereas in the wealthier north, up to 50% of children complete primary level education.
Conflict and poverty are the main causes of food insecurity in Sudan. The residents of war-affected Darfur and South Sudan are still greatly dependent on food aid. Far more than in northern states, which tend to be wealthier, more urbanised and less reliant on agriculture.Conflict and poverty are the main causes of food insecurity in Sudan. The residents of war-affected Darfur and South Sudan are still greatly dependent on food aid. Far more than in northern states, which tend to be wealthier, more urbanised and less reliant on agriculture.
Sudan exports billions of dollars of oil per year. Southern states produce more than 80% of it, but receive only 50% of the revenue. The pipelines run north but the two sides have still not agreed how to share the oil wealth in the future.Sudan exports billions of dollars of oil per year. Southern states produce more than 80% of it, but receive only 50% of the revenue. The pipelines run north but the two sides have still not agreed how to share the oil wealth in the future.