苏中关系新视野
——专访苏丹驻华大使艾哈迈德·沙维尔（H.E.Ahmed Shawer）
文I本刊记者 张梅 翻译I邓哲远
导读：大约160家中国公司在苏丹从事服务业、建筑业、农业、石油产业，苏丹还有更多机会在等着中国公司，这些机会遍布各个领域
6月8日，苏丹新任驻华大使艾哈迈德·沙维尔来华。6月20日，艾哈迈德·沙维尔大使在人民大会堂向中国国家主席习近平递交国书。7月20日，《中国投资》记者在苏丹驻华使馆采访了履新30天的艾哈迈德·沙维尔大使。
《中国投资》：您到任苏丹驻华大使已一月有余，能谈谈您对中国的初步认识吗？
艾哈迈德·沙维尔：首先，我想说明一下，在过去十年里，我曾多次访问过中国，去过北京在内的多个城市。我注意到中国人民很可爱，乐于助人，并且尊重外国人，这反映了中国人民的文明和文化遗产。中国已经能够实现经济和工业计划，提高人民生活水平，增强其全球作用，从发展中大国转变为提升实际地位。作为世界上的超级大国，这肯定会影响世界其他地区，因为中国正在发生的事情已不再仅限于中国，但这意味着每个国家都将从中受益，特别是第三世界国家。
《中国投资》：此次，《中国投资》派记者到苏丹进行采访报道，实地考察了苏丹多个领域发展现状，比如，基础设施建设，旅游，医疗卫生等。您如何看待苏丹的产业发展潜力？其中最具潜力的领域是哪些？
艾哈迈德·沙维尔：苏丹在自然资源/采矿业的不同领域提供了许多潜在投资机会，苏丹一直以其丰富的自然资源而闻名，特别是黄金、石油、天然气、铬、锰、锌、铝、钴和镍。苏丹是非洲最大的黄金生产国之一。在农业领域，苏丹拥有超过1.5亿公顷的耕地。气候适合所有作物，灌溉用水很容易获得。苏丹专门从事谷物生产（高粱、小米、小麦、玉米和大米），作物（棉花、糖、花生、芝麻和阿拉伯树胶）以及热带水果和蔬菜。此外，苏丹的牲畜和动物养殖在中东和非洲地区享有盛誉，包括牛，骆驼，绵羊，山羊，以及每年超过110,000吨的鱼类。苏丹作为非洲第三大国，与七个国家接壤，为运输部门提供了巨大的投资机会。苏丹工业投资机会包括农业加工、食品、纺纱和纺织品、皮革、化学品、制药、石油和肥皂、工程、建筑材料等子行业。
《中国投资》：目前，苏丹在发展过程中遇到的最大挑战是什么？为什么？苏丹政府为应对挑战做出怎样的努力？
艾哈迈德·沙维尔：苏丹发展面临的挑战是制裁带来的负面影响。为此，政府付出了大量努力以应对挑战：增加苏丹经济中的潜在要素、扩大社会保障网络、消除贫困等。今年苏丹有望实现经济增长。预计明年的国内生产总值也将略微好转。
《中国投资》：美国宣布解除对苏丹的制裁，未来苏丹有哪些发展规划？中长期目标是什么？
艾哈迈德·沙维尔：由于苏丹长期受美国制裁，中国对苏丹的政治，外交和经济都很强影响力。中国的进入以及在油田合作是一个里程碑，有助于苏丹的稳定。制裁的取消不会改变中国是苏丹最重要经济伙伴这一事实。对于长期和短期目标，苏丹通过创造良好的投资机会和热情的商业环境，提供了一个独特的经济发展计划。我们认为这将是良好的发展机遇，因为苏丹是一个新兴的投资热土，提供了国际竞争的舞台。
《中国投资》：作为驻华大使，您在日常工作中的重点是什么？你在任期内要达到什么目标？
艾哈迈德·沙维尔：中国与苏丹的合作是发展中国家中的一个样例，所以即将到来的时期，我们将致力于发展经贸交流，加强两国的贸易合作。目前中国公司的投资正在增长，相关投资机会也很多。除此之外，在未来一段时间内，我们将继续全面加强两国关系，以便在两国就若干机制达成一致意见后，克服双方关系在落实方面的障碍。
《中国投资》：苏丹与中国的政治交往，经贸往来，投资合作现状如何？您认为将呈现怎样的发展趋势？
艾哈迈德·沙维尔：在同意将两国关系提升到战略层面之后，苏丹与中国的关系正在不断开启新视野。两国正在着手巩固互惠互利、共享均衡发展的双边关系。两国可以利用各自的潜力，步入建立新的经济伙伴关系阶段，特别是在农业领域，中国先进的农业技术，以及中国的“一带一路”倡议都可使苏丹从中受益。
《中国投资》：今年九月即将召开中非合作论坛北京峰会，您有怎样的期待？对苏中合作将发挥什么作用？
艾哈迈德·沙维尔：中非合作论坛峰会上，中非领导人齐聚一堂，共同探讨新时期的中非合作，领导人将重点关注共同推进“一带一路”倡议，联合联合国2030年议程、非洲联盟2063和各国发展战略，将中国和非洲转变为共享未来的共同体。这将给中非合作带来胜利。我们坚信即将召开的峰会必将取得巨大成功，为中非两国人民带来丰厚利益，我们相信中非合作论坛的“一带一路”倡议将为进一步加强两国关系提供途径。苏丹与中国之间的伙伴关系可以取得巨大的成功，因为“一带一路”倡议为这种关系增添了新的动力，而苏丹是非洲大陆与阿拉伯地区之间的纽带。
《中国投资》：最后，请您对中国投资者提出一些建议。
艾哈迈德·沙维尔：目前， 大约160家中国公司在苏丹从事服务业、建筑业和农业，包括石油产业，我仍然可以看到苏丹还有更多机会在等着中国公司。这些机会遍布从咨询公司到机械、农业、畜牧业、健康和教育产业，我们需要中国公司更多参与这些领域，此外苏丹还有很多投资潜力，例如苏丹规模巨大的农业、矿产和动物资源以及食品工业。（编辑：杨海霞）
New vision of the relationship between Sudan and China
——Interview with the Ambassador of the Republic of Sundan to China,H.E.Ahmed Shawer
ZhangMei, China Investment
On June 8, His Excellency Ahmed Shawer, the new ambassador of Sudan to China came to China. On June 20th, Ambassador Ahmed Shawer, submitted his letter of credentials to Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People. On July 20th, the reporter from China Investment Magazine interviewed Ambassador Ahmed Shawer, at the Sudanese Embassy to China.
China Investment: Mr.Ambassador, you have been in china for more than a month now. Can you please tell us your understanding about china?
Ahmed Shawer: First, I would like to mention that I had visited China a couple of times during the last ten years and I visited a number of Chinese cities, including Beijing. I noted that Chinese people are lovely and helpful and deal with foreigners in a respectful way which reflects the civilization and cultural heritage of the people. China has been able to realize the economic and industrial plan, raise the standard of living of its people, enhance its global role, and the transformation from being a large developing country to enhancing its real position as a superpower in the world. This will certainly affect the rest of the world as well, because what is happening in China is no longer for the Chinese only, but it means every country will benefit from this experience, particularly the third world countries.
China investment: China investment sent a group of reporters to Sudan recently, who have been informed of the potentials for investment in multiple areas in the country .How do you see the development potentials of Sudan ? What are the areas with the most potential?
Ahmed Shawer: Sudan offers multiple investment potential opportunities in different aspects as Natural Resources/Mining which is Sudan's abundant natural resources, especially gold, oil, gas, chrome, manganese, zinc, aluminum, cobalt, and nickel. (in Gold production Sudan ranking as one of the top producers in Africa), as well as in Agriculture. Sudan has more than 150 million hectares of arable land, the appropriate climate for all types of crops, and water irrigation is readily available and/or natural. Sudan specializes in cereal production (sorghum, millet, wheat, corn and rice), crops (cotton, sugar, peanuts, sesame, and gum Arabic), and tropical fruit and vegetables. In addition to that's Sudan has a large animal wealth worldwide , which include cattle, camels, sheep and goats.Moreover,sudan's fisheries estimated by more than 110,000 tons . Sudan as Africa’s third-largest country and bordering seven countries, Sudan offers great opportunities for investment in the transport sector. Opportunities in industry in Sudan include the sub-sectors like agro-processing, food, spinning and textiles, leather, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, oil,soap, engineering and building materials.
China investment: At present, what are the biggest challenges in Sudan’s development? Why? And what effort is your country making to overcome those challenges?
Ahmed Shawer: The challenges in Sudan’s development came as a result of sanctions which had negatively impacted,.The state had made many efforts to address the consequences of these challenges by encouraging the potential elements of the economy in addition to expanding the social security network and fight poverty. This year Sudan is expecting to achieve a reasonable rate growth. Next year’s GDP is also forecasted to stand at rate which is better.
China investment: The United States announced the lifting of sanctions on Sudan last October. Given that, what does Sudan plan to do to make good use of the new development? What are the medium and long term goals of Sudan?
Ahmed Shawer: Since Sudan became subjected to U.S. sanctions, China was the main supporter to confronting these penalties , politically, diplomatic, and economically to Sudan.The entry of China and its involvement in cooperation with Sudan in oil field was a milestone that contributed to the stability of the Sudan, after the recent lifting of sanctions on Sudan, will not change the fact that China is the most important economic partner for Sudan. For the long and short term goals, Sudan offers avery unique plan to develop its economy by creating a good Investment opportunities and a welcoming business climate.We think this will serve because, Sudan is an emerging investment opportunity, offering access to one of the few internationally untouched.
China investment: As the ambassador to china, what are your priorities in your daily work? What goals are you to achieve during your term?
Ahmed Shawer: The cooperation between China and Sudan is a good example among developing countries, so the forthcoming period we will work on developing the economic and trade exchange process, to strengthen the trade cooperation between china and Sudan. The current investment of Chinese companies in Sudan are growing and there are great opportunities for related investments, in addition to this, we will continue efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries, in a comprehensive manner to overcome the obstacles in its practical aspect after agreeing on number of mechanisms.
China investment: How do you characterize the relationship between china and Sudan, such as the political exchange, economic, and trade ties as well as investment? What prospect do you see in the future China –Sudan relationship?
Ahmed Shawer: The relationship between Sudan and China is making continuous progress towards new horizons after the two countries agreed to promote their ties to a strategic level .The two countries are heading towards consolidating their standing ties on mutual benefits and sharing of balanced development. The two countries have pokential to enter into new economic partnerships, particularly in agriculture field , especially China has advanced agricultural technologies, as well as Belt and Road Initiative as another opportunity which Sudan can benefit from this initiative as one of the first countries which welcomed the Belt and Road Initiative.
China investment:The forum of China –Africa Cooperation Summit is to take place in Beijing in September 2018. What expectation do you have for the upcoming meeting? How must it boost China-Sudan development?
Ahmed Shawer: FOCAC summit would bring Chinese and African leaders together to discuss China-Africa cooperation in the new era. The leaders would focus on jointly advancing the Belt and Road Initiative and turning China and Africa into a community with a shared future, by aligning the Belt and Road initiative with UN’s Agenda 2030, the AU’s Agenda2063 and development strategies of individual countries. This will give win to China-Africa cooperation . We firmly believe the forthcoming summit is bound to be a great success which will deliver bountiful benefits for both Chinese and African peoples. We believe in Belt and Road Initiative under FOCAC is going to provide an avenue for the relationship to be further strengthened. Regarding the partnership between Sudan and China can achieve great success optimism over the possibility the Belt and Road Initiative, adding a new momentum to the relationship as Sudan represents a link between the African continent and the Arab region.
China investment: Finally, what suggestions do you have for potential Chinese investor to invest in Sudan?
Ahmed Shawer: About 160 Chinese companies working in services, construction ,agriculture and oil sectors in the Sudan.I can see more opportunities for Chinese companies , these opportunities starting from consultancy companies up to machinery, agriculture, livestock, health and education.In addition to that's Sudan have a lot of investment potential, for example, Sudan boasts of huge fishing, tourism as well as a food industry. I take this opprtunities to offer invitation to all chinese investors to invest in Sudan as one of the countries with many resources that can be invested in.
