Long friendship

The long-standing friendship between China and Sudan was key to the successful evacuation of Chinese citizens.

Zhang, the manager, said his company's local employees played crucial roles in helping his team reach safety.

"They accompanied us throughout the journey out of Sudan, and used their local knowledge and language skills to help us pass through the military checkpoints," he said.

The company, which specializes in petroleum engineering services, entered the Sudan market in 1996, and more than two-thirds of its 225 employees are Sudanese.

China and Sudan established diplomatic ties in 1959, and Beijing has offered economic assistance to the northeast African nation since 1970.

In one of the assistance programs, China set up an agricultural technology demonstration center in 2008 to conduct research on crop varieties, provide training for farmers, and promote the use of improved technologies.

Cotton varieties developed by the center have since been planted in more than 90 percent of the cotton fields in Sudan, People's Daily reported.

Liu, the analyst, said China has always upheld equality and mutual respect in its relations with Sudan, and has also refrained from interfering in its domestic affairs despite the African nation's shaky political landscape.

"Beijing has sought to contribute its strength to the development of Sudan on the basis of win-win cooperation, and has won recognition from various sectors in the African country," he said.

Liu added that the traditional friendship between Beijing and Khartoum would continue despite numerous changes in the political situation in Sudan.