Sudanese Minister of Energy and Mining Awad Ahmed al-Jaz said on Wednesday that his country was looking forward to Chinese President Hu Jintao's upcoming state visit.

"We have been waiting for the visit for a long time," al-Jaz told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on the eve of President Hu's visit to Sudan due on Feb. 2-3.

"The visit will boost bilateral relationship and cooperation in all aspects. We had a very successful model (of cooperation) in the field of oil industry, we would like to see China's experience in agriculture, infrastructure and other areas," the minister said.

He said that as Sudan is rich in resources and China has a variety of experience, the two countries can work together for the sake of their peoples.

As for cooperation in the oil sector, al-Jaz said that he was pleased to see that his ministry has engaged in good cooperation with the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) over the past decade.

"Luckily enough, by this cooperation, Sudan has moved from an oil importer to an oil exporter," he said.

"We are looking forward to increasing such cooperation," the Sudanese official said, adding "we look for mutual benefit" from such cooperation ahead.

Source: Xinhua