China's foreign minister was due to meet Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on Monday for the highest-level talks between the two allies in the Sudanese capital since south

Sudan seceded to form an independent state.

Yang Jiechi met Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti in Khartoum and announced that China was giving Sudan a 100 million yuan ($15.53 million) interest-free loan, a Sudanese government statement said.

Sudan was the sixth-largest source of Chinese oil imports in 2010. China has maintained close ties with north Sudan throughout a U.S. trade embargo.

Beijing called on the world to normalise relations with Khartoum after South Sudan seceded last month and has also been keen to build a relationship with leaders in the south.

Bashir has pledged to work with Africa's newest nation, but north and south Sudan have failed to agree on how to divide their oil revenues.

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