Chinese Yang Jiechi was in North Sudan on Monday, for a two-day trip to both Khartoum and Juba, in what was seen as an effort by Beijing to tighten its economic links to the oil producing region, dpa reported.
Sudan, which split last month into two countries, has been a major exporter of oil to China, which in turn was a staunch supporter of Khartoum, now capital of the north, internationally and through economic development projects.
Most of the oil reserves now lie in the south. Jiechi is expected to travel to South Sudan on Tuesday, for his first trip to the newly independent nation, after meetings on Monday with northern officials, including President Omar al-Bashir, who has a warrant against him from the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes.
Unnamed Chinese diplomats were quoted by northern Sudanese media as warning that the two countries should not squander their peace deal and work towards cooperations. They also pledged that Beijing would not end its support of Khartoum.
The warning over the tense relations between north and south came following a recent a major oil row. The North blocked a 600,000-barrel oil shipment from South Sudan on Friday, alleging customs duties over the use of facilities were not paid.
The shipment was released over the weekend, after a compromise was found between Juba and Khartoum.
After decades of conflict and poor development, South Sudan's infrastructure is in shambles or is simply lacking altogether.
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