China to build new Sudan airport in Khartoum

A state-owned Chinese company has signed a $1.2bn (£750m) contract to build a new airport in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.The new airport will have a runway long enough for the giant Airbus A380, says the China Communications Construction Company.The company says the new airport will strengthen Sudan’s international ties, which have suffered due to sanctions and a poor aviation safety record.China is Sudan’ biggest investor.Most of its investment is in the oil sector.The US lists Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism, which means it is banned from using the US currency for trade, making it difficult for international companies such as airlines to do business there.However, the US has hinted that it may lift the sanctions if the Sudanese government lets the oil-rich south Sudan peacefully and the separate conflict in Darfur is ended.Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir has accepted the result of last month’s referendum on independence for the south, in which some 99% of voters chose to secede