Chinese government presented on Wednesday 20 sets of demining equipment to the Sudanese government.

At a ceremony held in the National Demining Center in Khartoum, Chinese Ambassador in Sudan Li Chengwen and Sudanese Deputy Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Charles Mayann signed the document on the delivery of the equipment.

Li noted that the large quantity of mines left behind by the north-south civil war in Sudan had constituted a major obstacle for the local residents to lead a normal life although a comprehensive peace agreement had been signed in 2005.

He hoped that the demining equipment presented by the Chinese government would play an important role in the efforts to realize a permanent peace in Sudan.

Mayann expressed thanks of his government for the concern and active participation of China in Sudan's economic and social developments.

He said that the equipment again demonstrated the sincere desire of the Chinese government for a quick recovery of Sudan from the civil war, which had devastated the country for more than 20 years.

(Xinhua News Agency January 29, 2009)