March 2, 2007 (Beijing) — China has left Iran, Sudan, and Nigeria off its latest list of resource-rich countries for which it will provide financial incentives to Chinese companies to invest in, the Financial Times reported.
The Chinese National Development and Reform Commission, the chief economic planning agency that also oversees energy policy, released the new list on Thursday.
The nine nations slated for further Chinese oil and gas investment are Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Morocco, Libya, Niger, Norway, Ecuador and Bolivia.
It is not clear whether the exclusion of Iran, Sudan and Nigeria came because Chinese companies already have short-term investment plans in the three countries, or for more political reasons.
China is under pressure from both the US and the European Union to stay out of, or use its leverage in, Iran and Sudan to change the policies of both countries on nuclear issues and human rights respectively.
Interesting.
SudaneseThinker
SudaneseThinker
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Could be a change of policy, could be appearance and lip service. Time will tell.
It’s possible that with the heavy mutual dependency of the US-Chinese economies that China has at least decided to distance itself a little from these troublesome reasons to prevent further friction with the US, but who knows?
I’m thinking this is a move towards a change of policy but like you said Roman, time will tell.
Dude, I’m listening to Matisyahu now. LOL. And ya btw, when are you going to start a blog? Raccoon recently joined the club. You and Howie should do so too soon you know?
PS: my head is going to explode. I’ve been looking all over the internet trying to find some Sudanese Jews but I can’t. Do you know any Israel?
Nothing to do with China, just wanted to chip in and say I’m also waiting for Roman’s blog - come on, man!
I swear Suzanne is so right. My blog is becoming an Israeli lounge and soon there will be a conspiracy about me!
You Israelis are the most active commenters here in case you haven’t noticed. LOL. Yaaaay!
And Roman. COME ON MAAAAAN!!!
Howie where you at dude? I know you’re nearby. I can smell your stinky ape butt. Huh? What? I heard something. *oink oink*. What? Dude I know you’re nearby!
Hmmm… don’t think it’s a change in stance but as the article said it’s probably because they have invested very heavily in Sudan already. If China was backing down, the Chinese president wouldn’t have paid Sudan a visit for one thing, signed more trade deals with it for another, and as I found out from work, even more commodities that Sudan exports to China will be exempt from tariffs… which all point to a strengthening of relations.
Rihab ya zareefa inti. 3amla shno?
Thanks for your informative comment!
Glad you like the music, man. As for a blog, I’ll get back to you on that one when my mobile stops being my main internet source. As for Sudanese Jews, can’t say I know any, man.
I did find the following: http://www.orthohelp.com/general/book.htm
The book looks interesting, and you can always contact the author for further details.
Well, I can only speak for myself, but I comment here for several reasons - firstly, because I know you’re not going to bite my head off for thinking differently from you. Secondly, because if I ask a question, I know you’ll answer it honestly. And thirdly, because I’ve learned so much from this blog about Islam and about Sudan (which is a place I knew almost nothing about before I found your blog - but which your blog has introduced me to, and has got me reading more about). I think it’s a credit to you for being so open to other ideas, more than anything else.
Awwww, thanks NC. It means a lot to me and makes my whole blogging experience even more worthwhile. *blushing*
Damn, I think I wrote that link wrong…
Until I can get to a real computer to verify, the name of the book is Jacob’s Children in the Land of the Mahdi: Jews of the Sudan, written by Eli S. Malka. You could try contacting him at malkajef@orthohelp.com
Correction, that’s Jeffrey Malka’s email. A son, I think. And the link above should have ‘geneal’ instead of ‘general’.
Drima, lol
I’m sorry for this observation! 
The article is indeed a very interesting development. I wonder why China would have decided this. Is it economically based [i'd believe it's hard to do some economic investments in a country where there's - to put it mildly - tumult]? Or is it perhaps solely politically? Perhaps the US is pressuring, as the Chinese Yuan is fixed to the US dollar. I should not pretend I know much of international economics, but this sure sounds interesting!
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