Chinese doctors treat a child at the Juba Orphanage in Juba, South Sudan, June 1, 2017. (Xinhua/Gale Julius)

by Julius Gale

JUBA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan plans to strengthen strategic cooperation with China as it appreciates Beijing's policy of win-win cooperation with partners, a senior official said Saturday.

Finance and Economic Planning Minister Stephen Dhieu Dau said China has contributed greatly to the survival of South Sudan since the nation was hit by a devastating civil war in December 2013, adding that the government would seek closer ties with China for greater benefits.

"We as government and people of South Sudan are looking forward to having real strategic partnership with China because we believe China's political principle towards Africa and South Sudan is based on humanity and respect of human beings," Dau said.

Dau made the remarks in the capital Juba during a handover ceremony of medicine donated by China to fight malaria in the war-torn country.

South Sudan depends on oil revenue for 98 percent of its budget, but production has been hampered by civil war that has forced most oilfields in the northern region to shut down.

The East African nation is currently struggling with hyper inflation, economic crunch amid shortage of foreign reserves to support imports.

Dau said without Beijing's continued diplomatic, financial and humanitarian support, the nation would have collapsed due to the massive pressure on the economy for the past three years.

"Our survival as a country today is because of China, not as a major investor in our oil sector but as a friend. When we are in need of getting financial support or loans, we always get quick response from China," he said.