KHARTOUM - Sudan on Tuesday announced a new partnership with China to enter into new oil exploration projects and natural gas production at fields in eastern, central and western Sudan, official SUNA news agency reported.

"China has agreed to enter into new oil exploration projects and expand its oil operations in the country," the agency quoted Sudan's Petroleum and Gas Minister Mohamed Zayed Awad as saying.

The Sudanese minister further explained that China has also agreed to introduce the natural gas processing technology to increase the production.

Sudan began production of natural gas in 2009 from Tawakul well in Sinnar State within Block No (8) with production of 3.7 million cubic feet of condensate gas a day, announcing that the total gas reserve at the block amounted to 25 billion cubic feet.

China is considered the biggest foreign investor in Sudan with the biggest investments in the country and Africa.

During his recent visit to Beijing, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir signed a strategic partnership agreement with Beijing that included an agreement for China to begin production of natural gas at a field in Sinnar State.