“不同的地方蕴藏着不同的商机”

“南苏丹投资潜力极大，我们非常鼓励中国的投资者们前来南苏丹投资。我们希望前往南苏丹考察投资的投资者们不要只去首都朱巴一地，他们应当到南苏丹各地都看看，因为不同的地方蕴藏着不同的商机。投资者们可以投资的领域包括畜牧业、渔业、农业和公路建设等等。”南苏丹驻华大使约翰·安德鲁加·杜库在接受《中国投资》杂志采访时表示。在他看来，中国企业去南苏丹投资能够拉近两国间的距离，并且在了解南苏丹的同时，也能增进南苏丹人民对中国文化的认识。南苏丹首都朱巴还设立了中国文化中心，越来越多的当地人前往那里学习中国文化。

南苏丹与中国就像一家人

《中国投资》：作为第三任南苏丹驻华大使，您如何看待两国在一带一路建设中的合作？

约翰·安德鲁加·杜库：首先，我很高兴有机会接受《中国投资》的采访，南苏丹与中国就像一家人一样，我们将自己视为中国的一个重要伙伴。2018年7月10日我来到中国，就任驻中国使馆的大使。不过我一直不认为自己是一名新大使，我的蜜月期已经结束了。我真的非常幸运，因为就在去年8月底，我们的总统来华出席9月份在北京举行的中非合作论坛峰会，我也有幸参加了。对任何一位驻外大使来说，能够在其任内接待自己国家的总统访问驻在国都是莫大的荣幸。

至于你提出的问题，我认为一带一路倡议对南苏丹、非洲大陆乃至整个世界都非常重要。去年9月，在中非合作论坛北京峰会开始前，我们的总统萨尔瓦·基尔·马亚尔迪特就与习近平主席签署了加入一带一路倡议的协议。我们做出这样的决定是因为我们非常看重它，并且认为它能将中国与世界各国更紧密地联结在一起。这一倡议也完全符合习近平主席提出的构建人类命运共同体的理念。南苏丹坚决支持这一构想，而且我们就是共同体中的一员。我们愿意尽自己的所能，助力这一愿景早日得以实现。

这里有必要指出一点，那就是中国在1978年做出的改革开放的决定，使中国发生了翻天覆地的改变。四十年后的今天，习近平主席作为中国又一位杰出的领导人，为了带领中国人民继续向前发展，提出了一带一路倡议这一新愿景。过去四十年的改革解决了中国人的温饱问题，并且极大地改善了人民的生活水平，使中国摆脱了贫穷。现在中国的经济体量已经位居世界第二。我敢肯定，借助一带一路倡议和习主席提出的共享共赢的理念，在不久的将来中国经济就会跃居世界第一。

最为重要的是，不干涉别国内政是中国对外政策的一项基本原则。中国从来没有对其他国家施行殖民化，也不会像有些国家那样将其意愿强加于其他国家。中国外交政策中的这些根本原则使其在世界上赢得了越来越多的朋友。

与中国企业合作机会增加

《中国投资》：目前，中国企业与南苏丹在贸易投资方面的合作如何？您如何看待两国间的贸易前景？

约翰·安德鲁加·杜库：当前在南苏丹投资石油的是中国石油天然气集团有限公司（CNPC），它是中国一家很大的公司，也是南苏丹石油领域一个非常重要的投资者。石油是南苏丹经济的支柱，南苏丹90%的经济需要依靠它。

除此以外，也有一些其他公司在南苏丹进行投资，比如中国港湾工程有限责任公司，他们参与了位于南苏丹首都朱巴的国际医院的建设。目前，该项目一期建设已经完工，他们还将参与二期建设。山东高速集团也获得了在南苏丹修建公路的合同，并且马上就要开工了。由于战争导致许多本打算前来南苏丹投资或经营的中国公司放慢了节奏，但现在战争结束了，我们已经签署了和平协议，这就意味着我们有机会迎来与更多的中国企业合作的机会。

我在这里必须指出，过去有许多南苏丹受到美国制裁的误传，它们严重阻碍了中国投资者对南苏丹投资的意愿。我想借这次采访的机会明确告诉大家，南苏丹没有受到美国的制裁。美国或联合国实行的制裁只是针对一些个人的，他们称之为“目标制裁”，并不是针对整个国家或政府。

我们对中国的投资和经营持开放态度，这也是南苏丹政府前来中国访问并拜会中国领导人的目的之一。2018年9月当萨尔瓦·基尔·马亚尔迪特总统与习近平主席会面时，习主席建议双方应安排专业人员继续就合作细节展开协商会谈。南苏丹中央银行的官员在11月来到北京，就是为了响应这一提议。因此我们对会有更多的中国公司将前往南苏丹感到非常乐观。

此外，我还需要指出，在与中国的关系方面，南苏丹与其他非洲国家有着不同之处。我不是指援助或者贷款，我认为南苏丹完全有能力在合作共赢的前提下与中国建立合作关系。

我们可以看看中国从其他国家进口的产品，比如，中国现在从国外购买大量的食品原料。中国称为“豆腐”的原料是大豆，南苏丹可以种植足够多没有施化肥的有机大豆，而美国种植的大豆是施了化肥的。再看看矿产品，我们国家有黄金和其他矿产品，它们现在都还储藏在地下，等待开采，所以这方面也有很多潜在的机会。

南苏丹还有许多其他投资机会。目前在非洲大陆，南苏丹是唯一动物数量多于人口数量的国家。我们有5000多万头牲畜，包括奶牛、山羊和绵羊等。

所以说，南苏丹就像一块正在开发中的处女地，拥有巨大的发展潜力。开发和利用现有资源不仅能够使南苏丹获益，对需要原材料的中国及其他国家来说同样是极好的机遇。

《中国投资》：南苏丹成立于2011年，相对来讲是非洲的一个新国家。目前，南苏丹重点发展的行业有哪些？

约翰·安德鲁加·杜库：与中国相比，南苏丹的面积非常小，人口非常少。南苏丹的总人口不到1500万，还不及北京市的人口多。我们当前的重点行业是石油业，它不仅能拉动南苏丹的经济，也能给投资者带来收益，是一个双赢的行业。我们也很重视农业，因为我们其实可以种植大量各类水果，包括芒果、桔子、菠萝等，但它们尚未得到充分利用。

因此如果中国的投资者能在这一领域进行投资，我们就能提高其附加值，为中国市场提供新鲜、有机的各种水果。中国的中产阶级人群正在快速增长，他们的品味也在改变。我相信会有越来越多的人更加青睐有机水果，因此我们必须努力将自己的有机水果打入中国市场，让消费者做出选择。随着中国经济的日益发展，人民生活水平的不断改善，人们一定会尽量避免食用使用了化肥或化学添加剂的食品，转而选择有机食品。中国自身也在朝这个方向发展，我参观过许多中国工厂，他们都正在生产有机肥料。所以这应当引起我们的重视并成为我们关注的一个重点。建筑业也是我们的一个重要领域，因为如果我们要发展工业，就需要建设更多的公路、发电厂和工厂。

总之，我认为投资南苏丹对南苏丹和中国投资者来说是一项双赢的战略。我们需要与中国加强合作，因为中国拥有先进的技术。习近平主席提出的一带一路倡议是一个精心筹划的战略，并且具有前瞻性。借助这一倡议，我们就可以将中国的技术吸引到南苏丹，同时利用中国的投资开发我们的资源。在农业方面，我们必须提升农产品的质量来满足中国市场和全球市场的需要。

投资者不要相信网络传言

《中国投资》：由于南苏丹是一个新成立的国家，很多投资者都关心政府的政策是否到位以及能否得以持续。您如何看待这一问题？您认为南苏丹政府应如何解决这一问题？

约翰·安德鲁加·杜库：政策的持续性取决于政局的稳定。南苏丹在2011年获得独立，可是独立仅三年，就在2013年爆发了冲突。但现在回顾那三年里所发生的一切，会发现南苏丹实际上发生了巨大的变化。我们对未来的和平充满信心，相关的政策已经提交给了议会。我们也非常希望中国能帮助我们使和平协议得以落实，因为它是政府和投资者的指导原则和保护伞。俗话说，“早起的鸟儿有食吃”，我们鼓励中国的投资者们尽早来南苏丹投资，与我们共同参与国家的建设和发展。

《中国投资》：您对那些有意到南苏丹进行投资的中国投资者有哪些期望和建议？

约翰·安德鲁加·杜库：我想告诉那些有意来南苏丹的中国投资者，不要相信网络上的那些传言。南苏丹的互联网信息很有限，而且网络上的内容都是一些个人的看法，并非基于实际情况。那些所谓的国际分析人士所写的关于南苏丹的文章都是发自华盛顿、伦敦、柏林、东京或者多伦多，它们并不属实。你们应当亲自来南苏丹进行考察，因为这里有不少机会。中国石油天然气集团公司（CNPC）不是一家小公司，他们为什么会选择投资南苏丹？山东高速集团为什么会把他们在整个非洲的总部设在南苏丹的首都朱巴？
去年我们参加了在上海举办的中国国际进口博览会，发现许多中国商人对我们的产品表现出极大的兴趣。因此，我们想告诉他们，我们对与中国做生意也很感兴趣，我们并不是只想获得贷款，我们也愿意讨论贸易合作，因为我们可以将我们的产品销到中国。

英文版

"Varying Business Opportunities Rest with Different Places"

——Interview with H.E. Ambassador John Andruga Duku of The Republic of South Sudan to China
By Pei Andi  Hou Jieru  China Investment

The potential for investment in South Sudan is great. So we are encouraging Chinese investors to come here and invest in South Sudan. We are saying that investors, who come to invest in South Sudan, should not only go to one place, the capital Juba, but they should go over all South Sudan. Because there is unique opportunity in different parts of the country. Areas they can invest in include livestock, fishery, agriculture in general, and road construction.” H.E. John Andruga Duku, Ambassador of South Sudan to China, said in an interview with China Investment. His opinion to Chinese company is to bring two countries closer and allow Chinese to discover South Sudan, and allow South Sudan to discover more on Chinese culture. We have China’s culture center in Juba. So more Sudanese and other can go and learn about Chinese culture.

South Sudan is a family to China

China Investment: As the third Ambassador of South Sudan to China, how do you think the cooperation between the two sides based on the “Belt and Road” Initiative?

John Andruga Duku: First of all, I’m very happy for the opportunity to speak with you. South Sudan is a family to China. We see ourselves as an important partner to China. I have come to China as a new Ambassador the 10th of July, 2018. I have been here now for over eight months, I don’t consider myself as a new ambassador, my honeymoon is over. I’m really lucky. My president he came to China end of the August, and he was here for September China-Africa FOCAC meetings, which I attended also. So for any ambassador, when you are posted in a mission, then you president come, even it’s for a very short time, it’s a great honor for me.

So talking about your questions, the Belt and Road Initiative, it’s so important for Africa, for South Sudan, and indeed, for the world. South Sudan signed to joining the Belt and Road Initiative in September when President Salva Kiir Mayardit met President Xi Jinping on the sideline before the opening of the FOCAC meeting. We signed it because we believe the BRI is a very important program, this initiative brings China and the world closer. Through this initiative, the community which President Xi Jinping talks about, a community of people who share common value. We as South Sudan, strongly subscribe the idea, we are part of this community. We want to do our part as South Sudan, to see that these clear visions of President Xi succeed.

The important thing here is that China, in 1978 decided making very difficult political revolution for its reform and transformation. Forty years down the road, another great leader of China, President Xi Jinping, came with another new vision of the Belt and Road Initiative, take China forward. Forty years of transformation has improved livelihood of China, improved food security, transform China from poor to the middle-class economy. So today, China during the time of 40 years of reform, has jumped from nowhere to the number two economy in the world. So I’m certainly, in few years China is going to be the number one economy in the world, because of this Belt and Road Initiative, because of the clear policies of President Xi of shared value on win-win.

And the most important thing is China has a very important foreign policy, never interfering other countries. China has never colonized any other countries. China has never imposed its will in any country in comparison to other countries. So there is no colonial history of interfere other country, so those corner stone of Chinese foreign policy has guide China up to this moment to win more friends than losing friends.

Many opportunities to cooperate with Chinese companies

China Investment: What is the current cooperation between Chinese companies and South Sudan on trade and investment? What do you think of the trade prospects between the two countries?

John Andruga Duku: At the moment, we have China National Petroleum Corporation, CNPC, it’s investing in South Sudan’s oil. It’s a leading company in China and also a leading investor in South Sudan in the oil sector. Oil is the key economy in South Sudan, 90 percent of South Sudan’s economy come from oil.

Of course we have also other companies were working in South Sudan, for example, China Harbour, they are involving in Juba international hospital, phrase one is finished, they are going to phrase two. We have Shandong Hi-Speed, they have been given the contracts to build roads in South Sudan, and they are about to start soon. We have other companies also. The pipeline, our situation of many companies coming to South Sudan has been slowed down because of the war situation. But now the war is ended, we have peace agreement. This will add our opportunity to give more Chinese companies to come to South Sudan.

I must say that also a lot of the misinformation in the past, which have slowed Chinese investment from enter South Sudan, is that South Sudan is under America sanction. I want to take this opportunity of the interview to directly response that, misinformation. South Sudan is not under America’s sanction. What America imposed sanction on some individualist; they call it “target sanctions,” individuals were imposed sanction by the U.S. and UN, some individuals, not the government, not the country.

So we are open for business, the government of central South Sudan was here, it came to visit the government and leadership of the People’s Republic of China. It is within the context of meeting between two presidents, President Xi and President Salva Kiir in September 2018, in which President Xi Jinping recommended that the bilateral meeting between him and President Salva Kiir in details will be done by technical people, so the government of central bank coming to Beijing in November was intended to precisely do that. And we are very positive that more Chinese companies will go to South Sudan.

But let me also say this, the difference between South Sudan and other African countries, when it comes to relation with China, it’s not about aid, it’s not about loan, South Sudan has capacity to have relation with China on the context of win-win.

When you look what China is buying from other countries. For example, today China is buying important food ingredients, the Chinese food called “tofu”, tofu is made from soybean. South Sudan can grow enough organic soybeans, not being fertilized. Soybeans from America are being fertilized. We can grow soybean without fertilizing. Then you look at mineral, we have gold, we have other minerals in South Sudan, which are all remind in the soil. So these are the potential we are talking about.

There is opportunity for investment in South Sudan. Even in today, South Sudan is the only country in Africa where animals are more than the population. I’m talking about cow, goat and sheep. We have over 50 million head of cattle South Sudan.

All of these are potential in South Sudan, it is a virgin land, which is now in development. We can benefit from that opportunity, where there is now an opportunity for China to look at; and other country can get raw material.

China Investment: As a country founded in 2011, South Sudan is relatively new country in Africa, what are the industries you think your country should focus on and is currently focusing on?

John Andruga Duku: We are a country with very less population, the areas of South Sudan cover is only small in size in comparison to China, and the population is only under 15 million. For Chinese audiences to understand the meaning of this, the whole population of South Sudan is less than the population of Beijing. We are looking at petroleum industry. If we harvest it, it benefits South Sudan, it benefits investors. It will be based on the win-win. We look at agriculture industry. At the moment, we have plenty of fruits, such as mango, oranges, and many more. These fruits are not making used of, pineapple for example.

 So we are saying that if investors from China can invest in this sector, and then we add value in this, then they can get some fresh, organic fruit from South Sudan for Chinese market. China has growing middle class, their taste is changing, I guest more people want to have organic fruit. So in the fruit market in China, we must be able to display for Chinese consumer organic products, and they make the choice. We believe that as China’s economy improve, people’s livelihood change, more and more people would move to less use of fertilizer, less use of chemical. We want to use more human acceptable chemicals. These are the things we need to look at. China has capacity to do this; I visited many factories, which are doing organic fertilizer. These are the things we want, so we can improve our production. Another part is roads, we need to construct roads, we need to construct power plant, we need to construct factories, these are some other industries we are looking at.

 I believe the investment in South Sudan would be a win-win for both Chinese investors and South Sudan. That’s why we are partner with China, because China has advanced technology. The wise vision of President Xi Jinping of Belt and Road Initiatives, the BRI is a very well-planned strategy and vision. Because through the BRI, we can attract Chinese technology in South Sudan, to have them invest and to develop resources that we have now. If you talk about agriculture, we improve agriculture to produce more high quality product food for Chinese market and for the global market.

Don’t listen to information pick from the Internet

China Investment: As we know since South Sudan is a newly independent country, policy consistency or lack of policy might be some concerns for investors. How do you view this issue, and what measures do you think South Sudan should solve this problem?

John Andruga Duku: Policy consistency is something to do with the stability. South Sudan gained independent in 2011; 2013 we have conflicts, only three years since independent. But when you go back and look at what has happened in three years, there are tremendous transmission in South Sudan. We are confident that with peace start in place, these policies which have already been passed to the parliament, will be put into petition. And that’s why we are urging China to help us, to see that the peace agreement is implemented. Because it’s the only guidance, safety nets, for investors and the government. There is a saying that “the early bird catches the worm,” so we are saying to Chinese investors, come now, be part of this, we work together in this regard.

China Investment: What’s your expectation and suggestions for Chinese investors who want to invest in your country?

John Andruga Duku: I would say to them that come to South Sudan, don’t listen to information you pick from the Internet. South Sudan is a country with very limited Internet access to the world. What has been put up there on the Internet is opinion of individuals, it’s not based on fact. We are saying that the so-called analyst work on international analysis who are writing articles from Washington, from London, from Berlin, or from Tokyo, or from Toronto, from anywhere is wrong, come and see yourself. Because the opportunity is there. CNPC is not a small company, why is CNPC is South Sudan? Why is Hi-Speed opens its headquarter of the entire Africa in South Sudan’s capital Juba?

Since we attended the China Import Export in Shanghai, we have received tremendous interest from Chinese businessmen. So we are saying to people of China, we are interested in business, we don’t want only to discuss loans, we also want to discuss trade. We have products to sell to China.