China hailed for success of Sudan evacuations(2)

Long friendship

The long-standing friendship between China and Sudan was key to the successful evacuation of Chinese citizens.

Zhang, the manager, said his company's local employees played crucial roles in helping his team reach safety.

"They accompanied us throughout the journey out of Sudan, and used their local knowledge and language skills to help us pass through the military checkpoints," he said.

The company, which specializes in petroleum engineering services, entered the Sudan market in 1996, and more than two-thirds of its 225 employees are Sudanese.

China and Sudan established diplomatic ties in 1959, and Beijing has offered economic assistance to the northeast African nation since 1970.

In one of the assistance programs, China set up an agricultural technology demonstration center in 2008 to conduct research on crop varieties, provide training for farmers, and promote the use of improved technologies.

Cotton varieties developed by the center have since been planted in more than 90 percent of the cotton fields in Sudan, People's Daily reported.

Liu, the analyst, said China has always upheld equality and mutual respect in its relations with Sudan, and has also refrained from interfering in its domestic affairs despite the African nation's shaky political landscape.

"Beijing has sought to contribute its strength to the development of Sudan on the basis of win-win cooperation, and has won recognition from various sectors in the African country," he said.

Liu added that the traditional friendship between Beijing and Khartoum would continue despite numerous changes in the political situation in Sudan.

International focus

Beijing's successful evacuation operation drew international attention, as it helped citizens of several countries escape war-torn Sudan.

Mao, the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said, "Guided by the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, we have actively helped bring foreign nationals out of Sudan during our own evacuation operations."

To date, Beijing has helped the nationals of five countries leave Sudan on Chinese ships, and will continue to do what it can for other countries that have asked for China's assistance with evacuation, she added.

On April 28, waving Chinese flags and the national flag of Pakistan, more than 200 Pakistani nationals boarded the People's Liberation Army Navy vessel CNS Weishan Lake, joining 272 Chinese citizens at Port Sudan bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Nasrullah Khan, 42, a Pakistani mechanic working in Sudan, who was among the evacuees, said the trip gave him a true understanding of the depth of the friendship between China and Pakistan.

"Chinese friends opened their doors and hearts to us as we faced a dire situation. They took good care of us and ensured that the 18-hour voyage to Jeddah was comfortable," he told Xinhua News Agency.

The Pakistani Ambassador to China, Moin ul Haque, said the support provided by the Chinese government for the safe evacuation was a shining example of the tried-and-trusted relations between the two countries.

"Our two countries have a long-standing tradition of sharing weal and woe (good and bad times). We are grateful to our Chinese friends for the evacuation of Pakistanis from Port Sudan. It's no wonder that this unique and special bond of friendship, iron brotherhood and 'all-weather strategic partnership' remains the pride of our two nations," he said.

"This (the evacuation) has added another chapter to our long history characterized by mutual support and assistance in times of distress."

In an online post, the Brazilian embassy in Beijing also expressed its appreciation to China for helping evacuate a family of six Brazilian nationals from Sudan.

"The decision by China to help evacuate the Brazilians is another friendly gesture showing that the Brazilian and Chinese people stand in solidarity," the embassy said.

Liu, from the China-Africa Institute, said the evacuation missions, in which China helped the citizens from five nations, demonstrates Beijing's commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

"It shows that China is practicing this vision with concrete actions, and the nation is doing its best to help countries in need during times of crises," he said.

"This is the best embodiment for a responsible major country."