The special envoy of the Chinese government and Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai Jun visited Sudan from August 29 to September 1, 2008. He met with Sudan's President al-Bashir, Presidential Aid Nafie, Presidential Advisor Ismail, Minister of Finance Eijaz, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Kerti and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Al-Samani Al-Wasilah respectively and held talks with Undersecretary of the Sudanese Foreign Ministry Sadig.

Meeting with Sudan’sesident al-Bashir	Meeting Prwith Sudan’s First Vice President Kiir

Zhai conveyed the greeting and oral message of President Hu Jintao to President al-Bashir and exchanged in-depth opinions with the Sudanese side on the bilateral relations, the Darfur issue, especially the prosecution of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the Sudanese leader. He reiterated China’s consistent position of supporting the solution of the Darfur issue through political means and expressed admiration for Sudan’s adherence to solving the Darfur issue by political means and position of cooperating with the United Nations. He stressed that China is the friend of the Sudanese people and wiling to make joint efforts with the international community including the Sudanese government, other countries in the region, the African Union and the UN to settle related issues at the earliest date possible. President al-Bashir asked Zhai to send his greeting to President Hu, extended congratulations on the success of the Beijing Olympic Games and reaffirmed Sudan’s willingness of keeping communication with China on the move of the ICC and other related issues and continuing to solve the Darfur issue through political means.

Taking group photo with representatives of Chinese-funded organizations in Juba	Inauguration ceremony of the Consulate General of China in Juba

On September 1, Zhai’s delegation visited Juba, the regional capital of Southern Sudan. Zhai met with the local officials including Sudan’s First Vice President and President of the Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan Kiir. Accompanied by the Chinese ambassador to Sudan Li Chengwen and the newly appointed Chinese Consul General in Juba Zhang Qingyang, he attended the inauguration ceremony of the Consulate General of China in Juba together with the Vice-President of the Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan Machar, Minister of Cabinet Affairs Luka, officials of some foreign consulates in Juba and representatives of the local Chinese-funded organizations and the Chinese peacekeeping force. Prior to the ceremony, Zhai also met cordially with the representatives of the Chinese people in Juba.

The Sudanese media paid high attention to the visit of Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai. A large number of media including the national TV station of Sudan and Sudan News Agency (SUNA) covered and reported the whole process of Zhai’s visit and all the local major newspapers released articles praising the visit of the Chinese special envoy.