Sudanese government officials yesterday accused the West of applying double standards over the Darfur crisis and urged European countries to stop posturing and follow China's lead in assisting the country's economic development.
Opening a groundbreaking "Sudan-Europe relations forum" in Khartoum, Vice-President Ali Osman Mohammad Taha said Sudan needed partnerships to pursue modernization, but they should be balanced and mutually respectful.
"We know Sudan has resources and we know Europe has need of our resources. But we want to keep our identity and our cultural components while a new nation (emerges) from the negative shadow of colonialism," Taha said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the forum, Zahawi Ibrahim Malik, minister of information, said Western governments and media were exaggerating the crisis in Darfur. "They have been there and seen for themselves what is happening, but when they go away they tell a different story. They have double standards ... Instead of criticizing China for helping us, they should be helping us more," Malik said.
He rejected UN allegations that Khartoum was obstructing the deployment of a hybrid UN-African Union peacekeeping force. "We think some of those people in the west who criticise us are following their own agendas," he said.
（英语点津 Celene 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Brendan joined The China Daily in 2007 as a language polisher in the Language Tips Department, where he writes a regular column for Chinese English Language learners, reads audio news for listeners and anchors the weekly video news in addition to assisting with on location stories. Elsewhere he writes Op’Ed pieces with a China focus that feature in the Daily’s Website opinion section.
He received his B.A. and Post Grad Dip from Curtin University in 1997 and his Masters in Community Development and Management from Charles Darwin University in 2003. He has taught in Japan, England, Australia and most recently China. His articles have featured in the Bangkok Post, The Taipei Times, The Asia News Network and in-flight magazines.
