On August 9, 2020, Ma Xinmin, Chinese Ambassador to Sudan, met with the preparatory group of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) headed by Steven during their visit in Sudan.

At the outset, Steven briefed Ma on the group’s visit, the UNITAMS’s framework and the envisaged follow-up arrangement. As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and one of the most important bilateral partners of Sudan, China has a major impact on the political, economic and social fronts of Sudan, Steven said, adding that the UNITAMS is established by the UN Security Council on the request of the Sudanese government, and China’s support and assistance is of vital importance in UNITAMS’s smooth deployment and future work in Sudan and thus is all the more significant for the advancement of Sudan’s political transition and the accomplishment of its economic and social development. He said that in the next phase, the UNITAMS stands ready to work more closely with China to carry out peaceful construction programs and provide humanitarian assistance, in a bid to facilitate Sudan’s progress in realizing national peace and stability and pursuing economic development and prosperity.

Ma updated Steven on the current situation of Sudan and China’s policies toward the country. He noted that as Sudan’s strategic partner, China supports Sudan in choosing its own development path and backs the efforts made by Sudan’s transitional government to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and ensure national peace and stability, adding that China calls on the international community to lift sanctions over Sudan as soon as possible and remove it from the list of “State Sponsors of Terrorism”. He stressed that China supports the UNITAMS in performing its duties as per the Security Council resolution and hopes that the UNITAMS strengthens communication with Sudan’s Sovereign Council and transitional government based on full respect for Sudan’s sovereignty and wills, and, within its mandate under the Security Council resolution, plays a positive role in political transition, peace process and economic and social development of Sudan. The Chinese side is willing to strengthen exchanges and coordination with the UNITAMS and help Sudan embark on the path of peaceful and stable development at an early date.