An instant connection with friendly Sudan

Sudan was unfamiliar to me. In fact, it was my first-ever visit to Africa when my plane touched down at Khartoum International Airport.

To my surprise, after the plane landed the first national symbol I saw was a red Chinese flag.

It was printed on a green shuttle bus at the airport, along with words "China Aid". I started to feel this African country was not so far from my motherland.

Sudanese Ambassador to China Omer Eisa Ahmed told me that China is the biggest supporter of the African country's economy.

"China not only gives Sudan financial aid but helps us with construction of basic infrastructure," he said.

I knew the ambassador was telling the truth when I was traveling from the airport to my hotel. I could see advertisements for Chinese telecommunications company Huawei, and Chinese vehicles were everywhere in the capital.

Before my visit, all I knew about Sudan was gleaned from strongly stereotypical reports about conflicts and violence from Western media. My family worried for my safety. However, walking along the streets of Khartoum was one of my most amazing travel experiences.

The Sudanese people are kind and their lifestyle is slow. You hardly hear any arguments or see any conflicts. People are extremely friendly toward the Chinese.

I met two students in the street, Hamid and Elshelkh. Both were born and grew up in Khartoum and are now studying international politics at Khartoum University. They saw I was carrying a camera, so they asked me to take a photo of them.

After telling them I was from China, I sat on a step in front of a supermarket and chatted with them. They showed great interest in China and asked lots of questions about Asia.

"I have never been to China," Hamid said in fluent English. "But I know China is a good and old country, and relations between China and Sudan are very close."

Hamid showed me around the area, telling me the streets in Sudan are very safe for foreign tourists, even when you are alone, which totally contradicts what the Western media had reported.

"If you want to know about the lives of Sudanese people you should go to a local supermarket and eat something there," Hamid said, leading me into a big supermarket.

According to data from World Bank, Sudan's GDP in 2015 was $84 billion. Growth is expected to strengthen to 6.2 percent for 2016 and 6 percent in 2017, despite the drop in oil prices and reduced gold purchases by the Central Bank.

Still, the country is underdeveloped. Half of its people live below the poverty line.

But my new Sudanese friends generously invited me to taste local snacks in the supermarket and didn't allow me to pay.

Hamid said: "It is the host's duty to invite my Chinese friend to experience Sudan and it is not appropriate to let a guest pay."

It was only my first day in the country, yet I felt the connection between Sudan and China. I met more kind Sudanese people during a later visit to the ancient country.

I certainly see more potentials for future bilateral exchanges.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 01/13/2017 page19)