On October 20, 2011, Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun met with Pagan Amun, secretary-general of South Sudan's ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), who is visiting China at the invitation of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee. Both sides exchanged views on China-South Sudan relations as well as the relations between Sudan and South Sudan and other issues. Zhai said that China attaches importance to developing friendly relations with South Sudan and would like to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with South Sudan in the political, economic, cultural, educational, health and international affairs.