JUBA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to assist South Sudan in its quest to achieve long-lasting peace, prosperity and sustainable development, the Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan He Xiangdong said on Thursday evening.
Speaking during an event to celebrate the 68th Anniversary of the People's Republic of China, He described relations between the two countries as cordial and beneficial to both governments and people.
The envoy said it is China's hope that the attempts led by the East African regional bloc, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), to revive the stalled 2015 peace and the national dialogue initiated by President Salva Kiir will yield substantial results and bring peace back to South Sudan.
He added that achieving peace in the war-torn country requires all parties to engage in peaceful dialogue in the spirit of understanding and compromise.
"China will always be a sincere and reliable partner of South Sudan in its peace and development process," He said.
The Chinese envoy revealed that Beijing has provided a large quantity of humanitarian materials to South Sudan including 8,800 tonnes of rice, 2,400 tonnes of sorghum and 380,000 doses of anti-malaria drugs.
He noted that about 1,500 officials, scholars, technicians and young South Sudanese students attended training and scholarship programs in China in the past year.
The envoy said the two countries are implementing a number of development projects, including a 33-million-U.S.-dollar grant from the Chinese government that would enable South Sudan to expand and modernize its health infrastructure in Juba Teaching Hospital and Rumbek Hospital.
On his part, Stephen Dhieu Dau, South Sudan's Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, said South Sudan is grateful for the role China is playing in peacekeeping operations, infrastructure development, humanitarian assistance and provision of medical services for the people of South Sudan.
He said the government of South Sudan, recognizing the importance of viable relations with Beijing, seeks to strengthen ties with China.
"We particularly value our economic cooperation characterized by substantial investment by many Chinese companies in the oil sector which to date remains the live line for the government and the people of South Sudan. China remains the only country that sends medical supplies and officers to our needy people," Dhieu said
"The people and the government of South Sudan look forward to strengthening the relationship between the people and the government of the People's Republic of China and our country," he added.
