The government of China says it will provide technical training on environmental issues to help South Sudan deal with environmental problems it is facing.

The National Minister of Environment met with the Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan today to discuss possible ways on how to control environmental pollution, with emphasis on the oil fields.

Ambassador Ma Chiang said his government will train South Sudanese in environmental impact and the limiting of pollution:

“A Chinese proverb says…giving somebody fish, and training or teaching them how to fish, which one is important…..? Of course, training them how to fish is important… in China of course… we have a lot of experience in environment.”

Ambassador Ma Chiang said policies should be put in place to control corrosive emissions in South Sudan.

The Minister of Environment, Abdallah Deng Nhial said efforts are being made to address the impact of oil pollution in Unity and Upper Nile states.

“There are many factories that are concerned to remedy the impacts of the oil pollution and how to clean it,” he said, “but this needs all the partners and stakeholders to sit together and discuss.”

There have been reports of illness in the last three months — allegedly as a result of dangerous substances emitted during the oil extraction process.