On the afternoon of July 19, 2007, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Sudanese First Vice President Salva Kiir Mayardit at the Great Hall of the People.

Hu said that since the two countries forged diplomatic ties nearly half a century ago, bilateral relations have been developing smoothly with fruitful cooperation in all areas. Both China and Sudan are developing nations and to develop their long-term, stable friendly cooperative ties is an unswerving policy of the Chinese government, he said. The Chinese president pledged China is ready to work with Sudan to push bilateral friendly cooperation to a new level.

Hu said China appreciated the efforts made by the northern and southern sides of Sudan to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). China would firmly support Sudan's comprehensive peace process, and contribute to the stability, reconstruction and development in Sudan, Hu said. Not long ago, Hu said, the Sudanese government and the United Nations and African Union (AU) had reached agreement on sending the hybrid force to the Darfur region, which was widely welcomed by the international community. "Facts show that the trilateral talk among the Sudanese government, the UN and the AU is an effective mechanism to solve the Darfur issue," Hu said. The Chinese president called on the international community to "seize favorable opportunity" at present and seek a resolution to the four-year conflict in western Sudan's Darfur region. He called for pushing forward peacekeeping and political process in a balanced way and helping the Sudanese government to improve humanitarian and security situations in the Darfur region. "China will, as always, continue to play a constructive role," Hu said.

Mayardit said friendly exchanges between the two countries go back to 2000 years ago. Currently the friendly cooperative ties have entered a new period of development. He pledged that Sudan is ready to further develop partnership with China and Sudan's Government of National Unity is implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Many things in southern Sudan are now waiting to be done, the first vice president said, expressing hope that China will play a role in reconstruction in southern Sudan. He expressed gratitude for China on sending peacekeeping troops to southern Sudan and contributing to peace in the area. He also appreciated China for making the important efforts to settle the Darfur issue, appointing the special envoy, and providing humanitarian aids to Sudan. The Sudanese government had been committed to the political settlement of the Darfur issue, he added.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and other officials attended the meeting.