South Darfur and Al Fashir in North Darfur. We also signed an agreement with China to build a big $518 million power station in Al Fola in South Darfur. This is the kind of support we want for Darfur as well as in other parts of Sudan. Then if we have water resources and power supplies in poor areas, the people can use the water for agriculture and animal husbandry. I do agree that there are elements of ecological problems, but they are not everything. Development is fundamental and it is the right approach to address the problems of Darfur and other parts of Sudan.

What do you think is crucial to the implementation of the three-phased support plan drawn up by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan?

We have approved all the three phases of this peacekeeping package. We signed the third final phase on June 12, which concerns the deployment of a hybrid African Union (AU)-UN peacekeeping force in Darfur. We are fully committed to what we have signed. We accept that the leadership of the troops should be African because they are well acquainted with the situation in Darfur. Here I have to mention that we do accept and encourage the assistance of the international community as long as the sovereignty of our country is respected. What is needed now is that the UN and the international community help us with financing and in administrative affairs. We also need them to persuade the factions who have not yet signed the peace agreement to join the agreement.

I think four things should go together. We must first have a peace process to encourage those who are fighting to stop and sign the peace agreement. The peacekeeping forces should come under the leadership of the AU. Humanitarian assistance should go together with these efforts, too. The most important, however, is development. Without development, which is the cause of the problem, the problem will continue.

The United States has long had economic sanctions against Sudan. What are the consequences of the sanctions?

The United States has imposed economic sanctions against Sudan since November 1997. Despite the U.S. sanctions, our economy is growing very well because we continue to receive foreign investors from different countries, including U.S. companies, which right now own oil blocks in south Sudan. The inflow of foreign investments has contributed to an average growth rate of 9 percent per annum for our economy. So it is better for the United States to lift the sanctions to pave the way for natural cooperation between the two sides.

China stresses political dialogue, reconstruction and poverty alleviation in Darfur instead of threats and pressure. How does the Sudanese Government view China's position?

The Sudanese Government and people appreciate China's policy toward solving the problem of Darfur. China is against any pressure and threats. China's policy is a policy of positive engagement to solve the problem of Darfur through peaceful means. It encourages and persuades those who have not signed the peace agreement to sign it. It supports development in the region by building water projects, power stations, schools and hospitals. The Sudanese Government highly appreciates China's point of view toward the stability and development of Darfur.

How would you define current Sino-Sudanese relations in the economic, political and cultural spheres?

Since Sudan and China established diplomatic relations in 1959, our relations have been steadily growing. In particular, since 1997 when China became a main partner in Sudanese oil, our relations have remarkably grown. We have had continuous exchanges of high-level visits between the two countries. Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Sudan last February and Sudan's President Omar Al Bashir has visited China three times.

China is a main economic partner for Sudan. The two countries have joint investments not only in oil exploration, but also in pipelines and chemical industries. The cooperation between the two countries is not only confined to the economic aspect but also covers cultural cooperation through which China grants scholarships and training opportunities to the Sudanese students and cadres in different fields. I can say that the Sudan-China joint investment in the oil industry is a good example for Africans. After China became an investor in Sudan's oil industry, other African countries admired this example of cooperation. Most Africans welcome Chinese investment not only in oil but also in other fields such as minerals. We are more than satisfied with the level and scope of our cooperation with China.

Some Western countries criticize China for its investment in Sudan's oil industry. Is it reasonable to link the two countries' economic cooperation with the Darfur issue?

China is a sovereign country, and Sudan is a sovereign country. We have the right to work to promote our relations for the benefit of our nations. Other parties have no right to criticize this normal bilateral relationship. It is a mistake to link our cooperation with the issue of Darfur, because China entered as an investor in oil industry 10 years ago, whereas the issue of Darfur arose in 2003. On the contrary, I believe that the results of the cooperation between China and Sudan in oil industry enabled the government of Sudan and the SPLM to reach the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in south Sudan.

We can ask the people who try to link the issue of Darfur with the Sudan-China economic cooperation what they have done from their side to solve the problem of Darfur. Just they refuse to provide financing to support the phases of Annan Plan signed by Sudan, the AU and the UN.

How do you construe Western efforts to link the Beijing Olympics in 2008 with China's policy on Darfur?

I was shocked when I heard this. It is really not ethical and not moral to link the Darfur issue with sports. Such remarks contradict the spirit of the Olympic Games. They want to politicize this big sporting event and make it a forum to insult China and Sudan. I think they are doomed to fail. It is better for those who are trying to increase pressure on China about this issue to help the people of Darfur by bringing peace to that part of Sudan. They should do as China did. This is the only way they can help Darfur.